10173272Feasibility for real time, large scale and low cost hyperspectral soil microbiome monitoringClosedFast Start ResponseInnovate UKSoil health is vital for food security, climate resilience, and carbon capture. Yet 40% of UK farmland is degraded, and farmers currently have no way to measure the condition of their soil microbiome---the biological engine that governs fertility, water retention, and carbon sequestration. Terracusto's innovation addresses this challenge by combining hyperspectral satellite imaging with portable microbiome diagnostics. The project will develop the first UK model that links space-based imagery to on-site microbial activity, enabling farmers to monitor soil health in real time, without the cost or delay of laboratory testing. Our approach pairs open-access satellite data (e.g. Copernicus Sentinel) with rapid field-based DNA testing using Rapidx Bio's technician-free qPCR platform. Soil samples will be collected from two UK farms, and analysed using novel microbial eDNA assays targeting key indicators such as mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These microbial results will be matched to satellite overpasses to train a machine learning model that can predict microbiome health across entire fields from space. This project will: * Generate a validated model capable of predicting microbiome status with over 92% accuracy * Deliver a cloud-based farmer dashboard offering actionable, field-level insights * Reduce diagnostic costs from ~£50--£1,000 per sample to under £5 * Support sustainable land management, yield optimisation, and access to carbon markets The project directly supports DEFRA's Sustainable Farming Incentive and Soil Carbon Code by enabling verification of soil carbon improvements. It is aligned with UK Net Zero goals, biodiversity targets, and food system resilience strategies. By the end of the six-month feasibility project, Terracusto will have delivered two real-world pilot demonstrations, a functioning TRL-4 prototype, and a roadmap to full-scale deployment across UK and global farms. The work will also support the development of scalable "nature credit" verification infrastructure and provide critical tools to farmers, policymakers, and climate finance providers alike. Terracusto's solution represents a step change in how we understand and manage the biological foundations of agriculture. It enables low-cost, high-impact insights into soil ecosystems---turning invisible microbes into visible, actionable metrics for farming, food, and the future of the planet.