A solution from outer space: ConstellR’s satellite data help farmers manage water
A staggering 70% of the world’s freshwater is used in agriculture, yet almost half of it goes to waste every year due to outdated and inefficient irrigation methods. ConstellR is tackling the problem head-on: by attaching their proprietary sensor to satellites, they can collect real-time thermal crop data to help farmers use water more precisely, reducing waste and boosting crop yields.
Supported by the EIT Food’s Accelerator Network and other funding programmes, ConstellR has been able to grow significantly over the past four years, attracting investors and partners eager to bring their data-driven solution to farms worldwide.
Agriculture is the largest consumer of water among all human activities. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), producing a person’s daily food requires an average of 2,000 to 5,000 litres of water. (1) Unsurprisingly, regions with better access to water often experience lower levels of undernourishment, while water scarcity can lead to famine and food insecurity – especially in areas heavily reliant on local agriculture.
Against this backdrop, it’s alarming that nearly half of the water used in agriculture is wasted due to outdated infrastructure and inefficient irrigation methods. With a growing global population and rising temperatures placing unprecedented stress on water supplies, agriculture’s vast water consumption has become a pressing issue.
Over the years, a key challenge has been monitoring real-time water needs at the field level.
Addressing this issue would not only transform the food system but also help ensure a sustainable future for both farmers and global water resources.
That’s where ConstellR stepped in. Founded in 2020, this German agricultural technology startup uses thermal infrared sensors on microsatellites to capture daily, high-resolution images of surface temperatures across farm fields. Through their HeatR platform, ConstellR translates this data into insights that farmers can use to manage irrigation more effectively.
ConstellR works closely with farmers, smart farming companies, and analytics providers, incorporating their feedback to make the service affordable and adaptable to various agricultural settings. During development, for example, the team realised the need for timely, actionable data, so they improved their technology to be more precise. They also learned that integrating with current agriculture and water management systems would be key to making a large-scale impact.
The benefits have been huge. Economically, ConstellR helps farmers cut costs related to over-irrigation and crop damage during water stress, leading to more consistent yields and higher profitability. It also enhances food security by making food systems more resilient to climate impacts. Additionally, on an environmental level, ConstellR's innovation reduces freshwater waste, lowers the risk of soil degradation, and promotes more sustainable farming practices.
Despite the overall enthusiasm that ConstellR’s has received over the years, their journey hasn’t been without challenges. The team initially struggled to gather reliable data from existing satellite systems, which lacked the specificity needed to measure water stress at the field level. With support from EIT Food’s Accelerator Network and a substantial boost from the EIT Food Startup Impact Fund, ConstellR was able to refine its technology and roll out an expanded network of satellites. By developing its own satellite constellation, ConstellR achieved new precision in water monitoring, helping farmers avoid costly water losses.
ConstellR’s approach to precise thermal imaging data is transforming how agriculture adapts to a changing climate. With early water stress detection, farmers can act before crop damage sets in, conserving water and protecting yields.
Following a €10 million seed round led by Lakestar and Vsquared, ConstellR has secured an additional €17 million in a seed extension round in 2023. The investment will be used to help accelerate the deployment of ConstellR’s new generation of thermal satellites and to expand into the U.S. and other markets where water scarcity is a growing concern.
The broader vision includes developing partnerships to integrate ConstellR’s data with other agricultural technologies, creating a robust ecosystem that empowers farmers to use water sustainably on a larger
scale. Beyond agriculture, the technology shows promise for climate adaptation efforts and environmental monitoring, signalling a future where satellite data plays a vital role in conservation.
By making sustainable water use possible at scale, we’re creating the tools for a resilient global food system.
ConstellR’s success is a reminder of the power of innovation to tackle urgent global challenges. For those interested in supporting sustainable agriculture, this project highlights where investments, policy shifts, and technological advancements can make the most impact. As climate change accelerates, ConstellR offers a glimpse of how the food system might adapt to protect both resources and livelihoods.
