Muddy Machines ‘addresses critical labor shortages’ in horticulture with acquisition of logistics robot

• UK-based ag robotics startup Muddy Machines has acquired “the majority of key assets and intellectual property” from autonomous equipment maker Fox Robotics, also based in Britain.
• The acquisition includes a logistics/transport robot Muddy Machines will use to assist with the ongoing labor shortages in global agriculture, specifically with berry crops.
• The company is currently conducting a pre-Series A fundraise to enable new trials with growers in 2025.

Automating the ‘low value, but physically demanding, task of transportation’

The logistics robot Muddy Machines acquired from Fox Robotics is “designed to transport trays of harvested crop from workers to central packing/storage/transportation locations or to deliver empty trays to farm workers,” Muddy Machines founder and CEO Chris Chavasse tells AgFunderNews.

The acquisition of a transport machine directly supports one of Muddy Machines’ key credos: addressing the ongoing agricultural labor shortages with machines. Squirrel, as the new machine is dubbed, can operate both outdoors and in polytunnels and uses a combination of GPS and visual navigation systems to move in and out of rows, he adds.

“Moving goods around the farm can significantly increase worker productivity by handling the low value, but physically demanding, task of transportation. This not only eases the workload on farm workers but also addresses critical labor shortages in the industry.”

Muddy Machines joins the likes of Burro and farm-ng, both US-based companies, in offering automation for harvest assist.

The acquisition will also enable Muddy Machines to provide growers with “a more comprehensive suite” of robotics tools to offer growers, notes Chavasse.

“What stood out to us was the robust robot platform which has been developed and trialed extensively on farms over the last four growing seasons. Squirrel’s ability to autonomously transport loads is a game-changer for these growers.”

At present, the company will keep the machine’s focus on berry crops; Chavasse suggests there may be future opportunities to adapt the machine for other types of crops and growers.

‘Huge progress’ on asparagus harvesting ‘bot

Squirrel joins Sprout, Muddy Machines’ all-electric platform for precision agriculture that was trialed this year for its initial capability of asparagus harvesting. Three machines — a “herd” — were trialed and “demonstrated their ability to “efficiently and effectively harvest asparagus,” according to the company.

“Our team is making huge progress with the asparagus harvester,” says Chavasse. “We successfully conducted trials earlier this year, which validated its effectiveness and precision. Currently, we’re focusing on refining the technology, increasing the throughput based on grower feedback, and preparing for production.”

The company is currently readying Sprout for full deployment in 2025 and is currently taking pre-orders on the machine.

“By combining the strengths of Sprout and Squirrel, we’re offering a comprehensive suite of electric robotic solutions that directly tackle the labor challenges faced by the horticulture industry,” he says. “Our robots are designed to assist farm workers by carrying out labor-intensive tasks, making their jobs easier and more efficient.”

Labor continues to be the top driver for agriculture robotics and innovation, with weeding, thinning, and harvest assist machines the popular.

Chavasse highlights increases to the UK’s minimum wage and to employers’ National Insurance contributions as putting “additional financial pressures on growers, squeezing profit margins and making it more challenging to sustain traditional farming practices.

“By delivering advanced robotic solutions like Sprout and Squirrel, Muddy Machines aims to alleviate this pressure, offering growers efficient and cost-effective tools that support farm workers.”

Additional tools in the works

Chavasse, formerly Muddy Machines’ CTO, stepped into the CEO role this year after the departure of cofounder Florian Richter.

The company is currently conducting a $1.5 million pre-Series A round of funding to support both the Fox Robotics acquisition and trials with growers throughout 2025. While details are under wraps, Chavasse hinted at news of additional developments in 2025.