Fieldwork Robotics, a developer of selective, adaptive and modular harvesting robots, has raised £2.2 million in funding led by Elbow Beach. The funding forms part of a £3 million total funding package, which also includes £1.7 million in project grants, and will support the transition from technology validation to commercial trials and farm adoption.
It develops autonomous harvesting robots designed to address rising labour costs, shortages of available fruit pickers, and supply chain pressures affecting berry growers. Its technology reduces reliance on seasonal labour, boosts productivity, and operates across entire farms, helping growers manage costs, reduce waste, and maintain production.
The funding will enable manufacturing of production robots for deployment in a 2-year harvesting-as-a-service programme in Norfolk with Place UK, as well as Littywood Farm in Stafford. These trials will allow growers to evaluate logistics, operational requirements, and infrastructure needs ahead of wider adoption. Subject to these trials, multi-robot fleets are expected to be operating on farms from 2027, with additional trials planned in Portugal and Australia as part of international expansion.
Elbow Beach contributed £1.45 million in follow-on funding, building on its £1.5 million seed investment from 2023, which supported development and validation of the robotics and AI technology. In addition, Fieldwork has secured a £1.6 million Climate Grant and has been awarded the Innovate UK Farm ADOPT grant delivered in collaboration with Place UK and Littywood Farm, with activities scheduled to commence in June 2026.
Fieldwork is now entering its scale-up phase, moving from technology validation to full commercial adoption. 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.
Fieldwork has made impressive strides since our initial investment, building a robust technology and demonstrating a clear pathway to commercial impact. 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.
