PR: Farm robot Thorvald raises over £8.5 million in capital for global growth

– The demand for robotics and automation in agriculture is increasing dramatically, especially for climate-friendly technologies that increase productivity. This financing round makes it possible to bring Thorvald to new markets. We are proud to contribute to better and healthier food production using our unique technology, says Pål Johan From, CEO at Saga Robotics.

Unique farm technology

Thorvald is an autonomous robot that can solve numerous tasks in agriculture and is developed at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). The robot operates commercially in strawberry fields at night using UV-light to combat powdery mildew – a plant-disease that causes significant damage to food crops worldwide. The UV-light reduces the need for fungicide traditionally used in strawberry production. The battery-powered robot is lighter than a diesel tractor and therefore aids soil health, as compacted soil is worse suited to store the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂0).

– Our changing climate raises new challenges for global food production, and we need to find new, more sustainable solutions. The Thorvald robot shows us what the future of agriculture looks like, where intelligent and precise machinery uses fewer resources and more data for better results, says Siri Kalvig, CEO of Nysnø Climate Investments.

Set for global growth

The robot makes its way through fields, tunnels, orchards, and greenhouses – and the UV-light technology is set to enter the UK and US markets. There is significant interest to use Thorvald across different crops, and with its scalable technology, the robot can be adapted for a wide range of tasks. In the future, Thorvald can harvest, simplify logistics, remove weeds, and cut grass. Combined with sensors, Thorvald will also capture crucial information for further analysis offering farmers new tools for precision farming.

With new investors and significant capital on board, Saga Robotics is to scale their operations and become an international agtech company.

– Nysnø is excited to support this next phase to scale Norwegian technology into global markets, and also investing alongside specialised international investors that understand the target market and provide a valuable global network of partners, says John Egil Johannessen, Investment Manager at Nysnø Climate Investments.

The round led by Nysnø Climate Investments, ADM Capital Management, and Rabo Frontier Ventures to together with Dutch Rabo Bank Frontier Ventures and ADM Capital Management Cibus Fund, Propagator Ventures, Jacob Hatteland Holding, and others.

Contact person Nysnø: Siri Kalvig, CEO – e-mail: siri.kalvig@nysnoinvest.no  +47 916 04 181
Contact person Saga Robotics: Pål Johan From, CEO – e-mail pjfrom@sagarobotics.com  +47 906 90 932

About Nysnø Climate Investments
Established in 2017, Nysnø Climate Investments (Nysnø) is a state-owned company that invests in companies and funds with profitable and smart solutions to climate change. With 1.7 billion NOK in assets under management Nysnø invests within clean energy, digital and enabling technologies, resource efficiency, sustainable demand, and the circular economy. Nysnø is based in Stavanger and owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry & Fisheries. For å more information visit www.nysnoinvest.no/en

About Saga Robotics
Saga Robotics the company behind the leading autonomous robot Thorvald, which uses advanced algorithms to navigate demanding terrain in agriculture. The first Thorvald robot was built in Norway in 2016, and there are now more than 30 robots operating across five countries. Saga Robotics also develops tools to harvest strawberries, weeding, and growth predictions in collaboration with NMBU, University of Lincoln, Cornell University, University of Florida, and other. For more information visit www.sagarobotics.com