SEEDS · Project

Satellite-Powered Emission and Pollution Tracking for Industry and Agriculture

environmentTestedTRL 5

Imagine you could look down from space and see exactly where pollution is coming from and where it lands — on farm fields, forests, or cities. That's what SEEDS built: a service that combines satellite images with atmospheric models to map pollutant emissions (like nitrogen oxides and ammonia) and where those pollutants end up depositing on the ground. Think of it as Google Maps for air pollution flows. The tools plug into the EU's existing Copernicus air quality system, making existing data far more useful for farmers worried about crop damage, factories needing to report emissions, and cities managing air quality.

By the numbers

EUR 1,498,875

EU funding for development

consortium partners

countries in consortium

total deliverables produced

industry partners involved

pollutant types tracked (NOx, NH3, ozone, biogenic VOCs)

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies with emission reporting obligations spend significant resources on ground-level monitoring that captures only part of the picture. Agricultural businesses suffer crop losses from nitrogen and ozone deposition but lack precise data on what is actually landing on their fields. Both groups need better, cheaper, more comprehensive pollution flow data — and satellites can provide it if the data is properly processed and made accessible.

The solution

What was built

SEEDS built three key deliverables: an open source 4DEnVar data assimilation software package, a dry deposition scheme implemented within the open source SURFEX model, and a launched IT platform with web portal for accessing all SEEDS emission and deposition data products. In total, 45 deliverables were produced across the 3-year project.

Audience

Who needs this

Industrial emission managers at power plants and chemical facilities needing satellite-verified emission dataAgricultural cooperatives and precision farming companies tracking nitrogen deposition impacts on cropsEnvironmental consultancies preparing air quality impact assessments for clientsMunicipal and regional air quality monitoring agencies seeking better spatial coverageInsurance companies assessing pollution-related agricultural damage claims

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Industrial Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Large manufacturing plants and power stations with emission reporting obligations

If you are an industrial facility dealing with complex emission reporting requirements — this project developed satellite-verified emission tracking that cross-checks your ground-level data with space observations. The SEEDS platform covers NOx, NH3, ozone, and biogenic VOCs, giving you an independent check on your emission inventories. With 3 industry partners already involved in testing, the tools are designed around real industrial needs.

Precision Agriculture

any

Target: Agricultural cooperatives and agri-tech companies managing nitrogen deposition impacts on crops

If you are an agricultural business dealing with nitrogen and ozone damage to crops but lack data on exactly how much pollution lands on your fields — SEEDS built deposition mapping products specifically targeting agricultural users. The dry deposition scheme software implemented within the open source SURFEX model can estimate what lands where, helping you plan protective measures and document pollution-related yield losses for insurance or compensation claims.

Environmental Consulting & Air Quality Management

any

Target: Environmental consultancies and municipal air quality agencies

If you are an environmental consultancy or city authority struggling to get accurate, up-to-date emission and deposition data for your air quality assessments — SEEDS created an add-on service to the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service with an IT platform and web portal for accessing these products. The 8-partner consortium across 5 countries built tools using inverse modelling, data assimilation, and machine learning that go beyond what standard monitoring networks provide.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access SEEDS emission and deposition data products?

The project was funded with EUR 1,498,875 in EU contribution and produced open source software (the 4DEnVar assimilation tool and SURFEX deposition scheme). The web portal platform was launched for accessing SEEDS products. Pricing for any commercial service layer is not specified in the available project data, but the open source components are freely available.

Can this work at industrial scale for a large manufacturing operation?

SEEDS was designed as an add-on to the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS), which already operates at continental scale. The project specifically targeted operationalization beyond SEEDS and initiated activities to support emission information uptake by European industrial users. The 3 industry partners in the consortium helped validate industrial applicability.

Who owns the intellectual property — can we license or integrate these tools?

Key software outputs were released as open source, including the 4DEnVar assimilation software and the dry deposition scheme within the SURFEX model. This means integration is possible without licensing fees for the open source components. For proprietary elements or commercial service arrangements, contact the coordinator STIFTELSEN NILU in Norway.

What pollutants does SEEDS actually track?

SEEDS covers NOx, NH3 (ammonia), ozone, and biogenic VOCs — both their emission sources and where they deposit on land surfaces. These are mapped using Copernicus Sentinel satellite observations combined with atmospheric models. The focus is on both emission estimation and deposition flux calculation.

Is this ready to deploy or still in research phase?

The project ran from 2021 to 2023 and delivered 45 deliverables including a launched IT platform and web portal, open source assimilation software, and implemented deposition scheme software. Based on available project data, the tools have been demonstrated and the platform is accessible, but full commercial operationalization was targeted as a next step beyond the project.

How does this comply with EU emission reporting regulations?

SEEDS products provide satellite-verified emission data that can support compliance with EU air quality directives and industrial emission regulations. The service was explicitly designed to boost European competitiveness in air quality management. Based on available project data, the tools provide supplementary verification data rather than replacing mandated monitoring.

Consortium

Who built it

The SEEDS consortium brings together 8 partners from 5 countries (Belgium, Spain, France, Netherlands, Norway), led by STIFTELSEN NILU, a respected Norwegian atmospheric research institute. With 3 industry partners (38% industry ratio) including 2 SMEs alongside 5 research organizations, the team balances scientific depth with commercial orientation. The absence of universities is notable — this is a practitioner-heavy consortium focused on building operational tools rather than pure academic research. For a business considering these tools, the strong research backbone combined with industry involvement signals that the outputs were tested against real-world needs, not just theoretical benchmarks.

STIFTELSEN NILUCoordinator · NO
ISARDSAT SLparticipant · ES
CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHE ET DEFORMATION AVANCEE EN CALCUL SCIENTIFIQUEparticipant · FR
KONINKLIJK NEDERLANDS METEOROLOGISCH INSTITUUT-KNMIparticipant · NL
METEO-FRANCEparticipant · FR
INSTITUT ROYAL D'AERONOMIE SPATIALE DE BELGIQUEparticipant · BE
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSthirdparty · FR
LOBELIA EARTH SLthirdparty · ES

How to reach the team

STIFTELSEN NILU (Norway) — Norwegian Institute for Air Research. Contact through project website or CORDIS contact form.

Order a report on this consortium See STIFTELSEN NILU profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how SEEDS emission tracking tools could work for your operations? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the project team and help assess fit for your specific use case.

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