NUNOS secures 570,000 euros for space-derived fertilizer technology

NUNOS, an AgrarTech startup based in Hürth, has secured 570,000 euros in a pre-seed funding round. The investment includes 300,000 euros from NRW. BANK via its NRW. SeedCap program, with the remaining 270,000 euros provided by German business angels.

A spin-off of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), NUNOS utilizes technology originally developed for processing nitrogenous wastewater in closed habitats, such as lunar or Martian stations. The company is adapting this process for terrestrial agriculture to convert cattle manure and biogas residues into high-quality, chemically stable fertilizers.

The resulting fertilizer is described as nearly odorless and easier to store, allowing farmers to use nutrients more precisely, reduce costs, and minimize nutrient surpluses that contribute to groundwater and air pollution. NUNOS, founded in 2024 by Tim Paulke and Fabian Mielbach, installed its first pilot plant at a biogas facility near Cologne in 2025.