UK farmers are being asked to take part in a pilot for a digital platform that aims to unlock income from environmental sustainability.
The platform – TerraIQ – is based on artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, weather data, and simple farmer inputs, and is an output of the University of Manchester’s Venture Builder programme.
Founder, Imaara Keshwani, says it’s been designed for farms that can often miss out on the benefits of high-tech agriculture – up to medium-sized arable and mixed holdings that form the backbone of UK food production.
Combined forces
The pilot aims to demonstrate how digital agronomy and carbon accounting can work hand-in-hand for farmers, rather than being an added burden.
“We built TerraIQ to make sure smaller farms aren’t left behind in the transition to more sustainable farming,” explains Imaara. “By bringing together everyday field data with satellite and AI analysis, we can show farmers how to improve performance now, and how that same data can earn them new income from carbon in the future.”
The six-month pilot will run during 2026 and is open to arable and mixed farms typically 50-500ha. Participating will share a small amount of management information such as cropping history, soil results or nutrient plans, and in return gain free access to the TerraIQ platform.
Tailored insights
Each farm will receive tailored insights on yield forecasts, improving soil regenerability, and carbon capture potential, along with regular feedback calls from the project team. No special hardware or software is required; a phone, tablet or computer is enough, and all data is securely stored and anonymised in line with UK GDPR standards.
Although potential payouts depend on soil type and practice changes, current market values suggest farms could eventually earn £10-40/ha per year from verified carbon credits, once models are validated and approved by established carbon registries. The pilot itself is free to join, with all verification costs covered by TerraIQ.
“We want to prove that environmental data can work for farmers, not against them,” highlights Imaara. “This pilot is about practical results – better yields, better resilience, and a fair share of the financial benefits that sustainability creates.”
TerraIQ’s development has been supported by the Manchester Venture Builder and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.
UK farmers interested in joining the pilot can register their interest by emailing founder@terra-iq.io
