increase font size
Showcased at the Fieldays 2024 Innovation Hub, the Awards is a ‘launch pad’ for primary innovation in New Zealand and a globally renowned awards programme.
Entries for the 2024 Fieldays Innovation Awards have been announced.
The 64 entries range from something as modest in size as a wool plaster to something as large as an autonomous grapevine pruner, coming from Hamilton to as far away as Ireland.
The 64 participants have made it to the next stage of judging, and a step closer to a share of a total prize package of cash, services, and products worth more than $70,000 to help launch or accelerate their new product.
Showcased at the Fieldays 2024 Innovation Hub, the Awards is a ‘launch pad’ for primary innovation in New Zealand and a globally renowned awards programme.
Judged by a panel of 15 sector experts who represent a wide range of experience from around the NZ ‘innovation ecosystem’, organisers say this year’s Awards will showcase some of the most innovative ideas and technologies aimed at the agricultural industry.
“This year we had the most entries we’ve had in the last 10 years,” says Fieldays programme manager Steve Chappell.
“It’s superb to see so many great entries of such a high calibre again, and in the Award’s 56th year, it really is inspiring to see. I’m impressed with the ideas coming through this year, and I’m sure the visitors and investors will be too.”
There are 27 participants in the prototype category, 21 in the earlystage category and 16 in the growth & scale category. Five participants are also in the running for the Young Innovator of the Year award for entrants 19 years old and under.
The 2024 Awards sees the introduction of a new judging process, with first round judging happening now, and a short-list of finalists in each category due to be announced soon. Those finalists will participate in both an online judging pre-event and onsite judging at Fieldays.
“This year, we’re also adding a special twist to our Innovation Awards: A People’s Choice Award” says Chappell.
“All participants are in the running for this award. The innovator with the most votes will take home a $2,000 cash prize, while one lucky voter will win a voucher for $500.”
Visitors can vote by tapping their Fieldays Smart Band at the kiosk located inside the Fieldays Innovation Hub during the event.
The participants’ innovations can be viewed at the Fieldays Innovation Hub at Mystery Creek, Hamilton between 12 – 15 June. Additionally, the Fieldays Innovation Trail layer can be turned on in the Fieldays App to explore Innovation Awards entries at the exhibitor’s sites.
Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with the latter delivering a platform for problem-solvers to showcase their innovation to the primary industries.
A system that combines UV-C light for disinfection could provide chemical free treatment of plant pathogens and diseases such as powdery mildew and botrytis on berry, vine and tree crops.
OPINION: With the 2024 edition of National Fieldays behind us, it would be fair to say that although the mood was positive – a plus, given the negative sentiment across the rural sector – you must wonder if this showcase format’s days are numbered.
JFC Agri, the family-owned manufacturer of agricultural products from Galway, Ireland, used Fieldays to launch its innovative Evolution range of automatic calf feeders, including the state-of-the-art Evolution S4 Automatic Unit.
What do you want from your pasture? That's the question top Massey University scientists were asking farmers at the 'Science for Farmers' site at Fieldays recently.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg.
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.
