Fieldwork Robotics, a startup that has developed autonomous agricultural harvesting robots, has announced £3m in funding to support the trialing and adoption of its tech in real farms.
The Cambridge-based group launched to address the rising cost of labour among berry growers. Its robots reduce reliance on seasonal labour and the company claims its tech improves productivity and reduces harvesting waste.
Now with new funding secured, Fieldwork Robotics plans to manufacture new production robots for deployment in a two-year programme in Norfolk in partnership with Place UK as well as in Stafford with Littywood Farm.
The company said it expects multi-robot fleets to be deployed and operating on farms from 2027, following upcoming trials.
“Fieldwork is now entering its scaleup phase, moving from technology validation to full commercial adoption,” said David Fulton, Fieldwork Robotics chief executive.
“We are excited to demonstrate how our autonomous raspberry harvesting robots can boost productivity, protect grower margins, and deliver sustainable harvesting solutions in the UK and globally as we build our international traction.
“With a strengthened leadership team and strong investor support, we are well-positioned to accelerate multi-robot deployment and drive the wider adoption of autonomous harvesting at farm level.”
The new investment was led by existing investor Elbow Beach Capital.
“Fieldwork has made impressive strides since our initial investment, building a robust technology and demonstrating a clear pathway to commercial impact,” Jon Pollock, chief executive of Elbow Beach Capital.
“This round reflects our confidence in the team and their innovative technology, which tackles labour shortages, eases inflationary pressures, and meets the growing demand for automation in the sector.
“We are proud to continue our support for Fieldwork as they help food producers scale efficiently, expand into international markets, reduce waste, and drive sustainable growth.”
