DeepTech is not just a buzzword in Estonia, as even crops can soon be monitored from space. Estonian startup eAgronom has secured €430,000 in funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) for its CoverCrop project. The initiative, worth €538,000 in total, aims to enhance satellite-based monitoring systems for agricultural practices, with eAgronom contributing the remaining sum.
The project focuses on developing an advanced satellite-based MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification) system. This technology will enable automatic assessment of plant biomass and monitor cover crop implementation—plants grown primarily to protect and enrich soil between main crop seasons rather than for harvest.
“We will create new intellectual property for machine learning models and user-oriented tools during the project,” explains Robin Saluoks, eAgronom’s CEO. “The developed machine learning models and software will become an important part of eAgronom’s carbon program service.” The year-long initiative began in March 2025.
Robin Saluoks
The collaboration will be a win for Estonia’s ambitions in the SpaceTech sector. “The goal of the Estonian Space Office is to help Estonian companies engage in world-class development cooperation and offer our companies new business opportunities in high-tech markets,” notes Madis Võõras, Director of the Estonian Space Office. “Collaboration with eAgronom exemplifies how space technology can support sustainable agriculture and help reduce the carbon footprint.”
Should the project prove successful, it would initially cover Estonia, the other Baltic states, and Poland, with ambitions to incorporate additional satellite data sources such as Sentinel-3 and expand its historical datasets. The technology could eventually be deployed across all major European countries where eAgronom operates or plans to establish a presence.
The company has recently raised €10M to support sustainable farming transitions. The CoverCrop project will amplify this, showing that farming practices can focus on soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
The Estonian Space Office, a division of Enterprise Estonia, functions as the national liaison to the Space Agency (ESA). Its primary role is to facilitate Estonia’s participation in ESA programmes and offer Estonian businesses opportunities to engage in high-tech global markets. Additionally, the office supports industry growth by promoting collaborations, disseminating ESA tenders, and providing consultancy services.
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