Frederick Spence Investments Fund
The Lapwing Estate invests in start-ups tackling the sector's toughest challenges head-on, testing and proving each one at the Pollybell Innovation Centre before it reaches the wider market:
chemical dependency, tackled by Earth Rover's CLAWS robot, which replaces herbicides with precision light-based weeding;
carbon emissions, reversed by Reverse Coal, a greenhouse gas removal facility turning biomass into biochar and renewable energy for climate-positive food production;
water scarcity, addressed by FLOW's large scale agricultural reservoir, which captures peak river flows to supply industry, agriculture and environment;
and crop waste, tackled by UPP, which turns discarded broccoli stalks and florets into plant-based protein and fibre ingredients for food manufacturers.
Other investments include: Seed genetics; Biologicals; Robotics; Energy; Water.
Our Investments
Earth Rover builds CLAWS, an autonomous robot that replaces chemical herbicides with precision light-based weeding, cutting input costs and chemical dependency while keeping fresh produce affordable for farmers and consumers.
Location
UK & Spain
Founded
2017
A greenhouse gas facility that converts farm biomass into biochar and renewable energy, reducing agricultural emissions while producing climate-positive food and clean power. Partnering with Flogas and British Steel to support industrial decarbonisation.
Location
UK
Founded
2015
Farmed Landscape Optimised Water (FLOW) designs and delivers large-scale reservoirs in the farm environment – 10M m3 plus – intercepting peak water flows and holding it in reserve to be available to industry, agriculture and environment when it’s needed most.
Location
UK
Founded
2026
Upp turns discarded broccoli stalks into allergen-free protein and fibre ingredients for food manufacturers, using an automated harvester that also cuts labour costs and boosts farmers' income from crop waste.
Location
UK
Founded
2022