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Thorvalds at San Juan Ranch in Shandon. Photo credit_ Frank J_edited.jpg

Technology that works.
For growers, for the planet, and
for the next generation

Thorvald is already delivering real-world impact. Our autonomous farming robots help growers reduce chemicals and farm more efficiently across the US, UK, and Norway. 

Impact that scales

From strawberries in the UK to vineyards in California, Thorvald proved in the 2025 season that robotics can make farming more sustainable, efficient, and scalable in the real world.

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150+

Thorvald robots in operation

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20%

of the UK strawberry tabletop market covered

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~1,300

vineyard acres

treated

in California

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200,000+

autonomous

kilometers driven

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97%

robot uptime across commercial farm operations

From research roots to real-world change

What began as university-backed robotics research is now reshaping commercial agriculture.

Our team combines deep academic expertise with hands-on farming knowledge to build proven robotic solutions

that deliver measurable ROI and significant ESG impact in the field. 

Thorvald Engineers

01 

The Beginning: Curiosity Meets Purpose

Thorvald began in 2014 as a Master's project at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, where Lars Grimstad and supervisor Dr. Pål Johan From set out to tackle sustainable food production. By 2016, the work had moved from research to real farming with the launch of Saga Robotics and the Thorvald II platform, establishing a clear path toward scalable, commercial agricultural robotics.

02

Growing With Growers

From 2016 to 2020, Thorvald matured in close collaboration with leading UK growers, who helped test and refine the robots in real field conditions. Investor support in 2020 unlocked commercial scale. By 2023, Thorvald was delivering full-season UV-C protection across five major UK strawberry farms, demonstrating reliable performance and readiness for large fleets.

03

Today and Tomorrow: Scaling Impact

Thorvald now operates across three countries, cutting fungicide use and capturing key field data for growers. By the end of 2025, the fleet reached meaningful scale, treating 20 percent of UK tabletop strawberries and nearly 1,300 acres of US grapevines. This momentum positions Thorvald as essential infrastructure for sustainable, autonomous agriculture worldwide.

"I truly believe robotics can transform farming for the better. More and more tasks on the farm can now be handled by robots, which frees up time, reduces costs, and lets farmers focus on what truly needs a human touch. Our customers are already seeing major labour savings and better yields. And this is just the beginning. We’re only in the foothills of what’s coming."

Founder Pål Johan From

Pål Johan From,
Founder & CGO

Vineyards

At Saga Robotics, we believe technology and teamwork can transform how the world grows food.

From vineyards in California to strawberry farms in the UK, our people are in the field every day, solving real problems alongside the growers who feed the world.

Thorvald engineer
Thorvald engineer
Thorvald engineers in the vineyard
Thorvald engineer
Thorvald engineer

A team dedicated to solving the biggest challenges in agriculture. We bring together engineers, plant scientists and growers to build technology that makes farming more efficient, more profitable, and more sustainable.

Working at Saga means building something that matters. We're developing disruptive robotics that reduce chemical use, support growers, and unlock entirely new ways to grow food at scale.

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Collaboration

We work hand-in-hand with growers and each other

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Real-World 
Innovation

Every robot we build

starts with a real challenge in the field  

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Purpose-Driven

We measure success by impact, driving both profit and sustainability.

If you’re looking for a mission with meaning, and a team that believes in doing what works in the real world. Please join us.

Leadership rooted in technology and agriculture

Our leadership team combine deep tech expertise with hands-on farming knowledge to turn innovation into real-world results.

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Sacha de La Noë

CEO

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Prof. Pål Johan From

Founder /

CGO

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Dr. Lars Grimstad

Co-Founder /

CTO

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Thomas Andersen

CFO

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Dr. Damian Flynn

CPO

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James

Waltham

General Manager UK

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Caine

Thompson

General Manager US

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Chair of the Board

Innovation in agriculture only matters if it works in the real world. Autonomous farming is no longer a future concept, it’s a daily reality. By scaling responsibly, we deliver reliable, measurable value to growers while advancing a more sustainable, chemical-free future.

Sacha de La Noë

CEO

Behind the Thorvald robots

Learn how our engineering and robotics teams design, test, and refine the world’s most advanced agricultural robots.

More than what you see in the field

Thorvald’s work starts long before it reaches the farm. Go behind the scenes with our engineering team and see how modular design, global collaboration, and rapid iteration come together to build robots that scale.

How childhood play led to tackling world hunger with robots

Meet Halvard Grimstad, Head of Operational Excellence and one of the Robotic Engineers working with Thorvald. Halvard grew up in Norway surrounded by farms and playing with Lego. As a Robotics Engineer, he combines his love for nature and putting things together to create robots that will revolutionise farming.

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Talk to us

Want to see what Thorvald can do on your farm? Get in touch.

Contact us
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