Key Takeaways:
- Fieldwork Robotics joins Lusomorango, INIAV, Driscoll’s, and Maravilha Farms in a 24-month R&D programme in Portugal.
- The initiative will test and optimize Fieldwork’s robotic harvester for Driscoll’s Reyna™ and Maravilla™ raspberry varieties.
- Trials will include AI-driven harvesting, night operations, and economic modeling for growers.
- Programme aims to address regional labour shortages while enhancing yield quality and efficiency.
- Fieldwork Robotics has received Portugal’s R&D Suitability Seal, strengthening its innovation credentials.
Fieldwork Robotics and Research Centre for Sustainability Launch Collaborative Programme
Fieldwork Robotics Ltd. announced a new partnership with the Research Centre for Sustainability, a consortium comprising Lusomorango, INIAV, Driscoll’s, and Maravilha Farms. The 24-month research and development programme, based in São Teotónio, Portugal, will focus on demonstrating the capabilities of Fieldwork’s selective and adaptive harvesting robots for raspberries.
The project aims to support Lusomorango’s growers, among Portugal’s largest berry producers, by testing Fieldwork’s robots on Driscoll’s Reyna™ and Maravilla™ raspberry varieties. The Research Centre’s mission is to enhance farm efficiency and advance innovative berry production solutions that can be scaled globally.
Research Focus: Efficiency, AI, and Night Harvesting
As part of the programme, Fieldwork Robotics and the Research Centre for Sustainability will design optimized polytunnel layouts to improve robotic performance and product quality. The initiative will evaluate the robots’ AI capabilities in selective harvesting, precision handling, and night-time operation to maximize utilisation.
Data from both day and night trials will contribute to early economic models that quantify the potential benefits of robotic harvesting. The results will inform Fieldwork’s development of forecasting tools and assess how automation can improve fruit quality scores and consistency.
Labour shortages in Portugal’s agricultural sector make this initiative especially relevant, providing growers with a potential solution to sustain productivity despite workforce constraints.
Recognition for Innovation and Strategic Development
Fieldwork Robotics’ research activities in Portugal have been recognized by the country’s National Innovation Agency (ANI), which awarded the company the Selo de Idoneidade em I&D (R&D Suitability Seal). This distinction validates the technical excellence of Fieldwork’s research and qualifies it for Portugal’s SIFIDE programme, offering tax incentives for R&D investment.
“This research programme is of significant strategic importance to Fieldwork as we continue to develop the capabilities of our harvesting robot and drive innovation in the raspberry harvesting sector,” said David Fulton, CEO of Fieldwork Robotics. “The partnership with the Research Centre for Sustainability provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate real-world benefits for growers globally.”
Advancing Sustainable and Competitive Agriculture
Joel Vasconcelos, CEO of Lusomorango, commented on behalf of the Research Centre for Sustainability: “This is an opportunity to generate knowledge aimed at improving the competitiveness of our producers and the entire agricultural sector. Understanding how technology can contribute to more resilient and efficient operations will be of added value.”
Through this partnership, Fieldwork Robotics and its collaborators aim to accelerate the adoption of automation in berry production, creating scalable solutions for sustainable and efficient farming worldwide.
4 Comments