Space Tech Tackles Farm Pollution: Nunos Converts Manure into Odorless Fertilizer
Hürth, Germany – February 11, 2026 – Farmers are returning to the fields as February begins, but a fresh solution is emerging to address the environmental impact of a traditional practice: manure spreading. Startup Nunos GmbH has developed a groundbreaking process, originally inspired by space station technology, to transform manure into a more efficient and odorless fertilizer, receiving a €125,000 boost from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU).
From Space Station to Sustainable Farms
The process, a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), isn’t a far cry from the challenges faced by astronauts. “The underlying system was originally developed to process human urine as fertilizer for soil-free cultivation in greenhouses on space stations,” explains Nunos co-founder Tim Paulke. Now, that technology is being applied to a terrestrial problem. Nunos’s system utilizes microorganisms within a 24-hour cycle to convert manure into a fertilizer with enhanced nutrient use efficiency and significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing Emissions and Boosting Yields
Manure, even as a vital nutrient source for crops, releases harmful gases like ammonia and methane into the atmosphere. Nunos’s technology directly addresses this issue. The newly prepared fertilizer allows nutrients to reach plants more quickly, minimizing leaching into the ground. Early planting trials suggest a potential harvest yield increase of up to 20%, a figure the company plans to validate through field trials on two farms in 2026. This isn’t just about environmental responsibility; it’s about improving agricultural productivity.
Beyond the Farm: Fertilizer for Home Gardeners
Nunos isn’t limiting its impact to large-scale agriculture. The startup also produces little quantities of the fertilizer for home use, marketing it as a “multivitamin drink” for tomatoes and houseplants, sold directly to consumers via the internet. The core technology is patented by DLR and exclusively licensed to Nunos, ensuring a unique position in the market.
Focus on Environmental Impact
The DBU funding will allow Nunos to delve deeper into the environmental impact of its process, moving beyond purely economic considerations. Currently, the company primarily works with cattle manure and digestate from biogas plants. Further field tests are planned to refine the fertilizer and optimize yields. This commitment to comprehensive evaluation underscores Nunos’s dedication to truly sustainable agricultural practices.
Nunos represents a fascinating example of how innovation, born from the demands of space exploration, can be repurposed to address pressing challenges on Earth. As the agricultural sector continues to seek sustainable solutions, technologies like Nunos’s will be crucial in balancing food production with environmental stewardship, offering a brighter, and less odorous, future for farming.
