Entries open for 2019 Fieldays Innovations Awards

Entries are open for the 2019 Fieldays Innovations Awards.

The awards are a chance for agricultural innovators to test their ideas, gather information, launch products and make connections.

Showcased in the heart of the New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays, the Innovation Awards are a must-see for those wishing to keep up with the latest developments in the primary industries.

Award categories include:

• Prototype Grassroots focused on showcasing ideas
• Prototype Established recognising product development
• Launch NZ for innovations ready to go to market
• International for launching innovations globally

"As well as the $60,000 prize pool on offer in cash and support, entrants will also be given a platform to test the market, the opportunity to learn from industry experts and the chance to develop their innovation through the various production stages," said Fieldays Innovations event manager Gail Hendricks

"These awards support ingenuity and creativity the kiwi can-do attitude, recognising people picking good problems or processes and being creative in the way they solve or enhance them."

Entrants will get the opportunity to present their innovations to the many visitors and exhibitors that attend Fieldays from around the country and internationally.

Last year's winners included a robot that navigates kiwifruit orchards capturing highly accurate data, ground-breaking deer milk products, an app to help orchard supervisors collect time sheets and push to payroll, a plantain that reduces nitrogen leaching, and a two-wheel drive electric utility vehicle.

Fieldays saw over 130,000 visitors attend the event in 2018 making it the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere, and an ideal platform for backyard inventors and start-up companies to interact with their end-users and progress their innovations.

The international reach of Fieldays spans across 42 counties with over 300 international visitors attending Fieldays with delegations from Korea, China, South East Asia, Australia and the UK.

Award entrants are supported by a group of knowledgeable and insightful organisations and individuals who provide advice around law, research, networking, engineering, technology and science.

Head to www.fieldays.co.nz/innovations for more information and to apply.

ABOUT FIELDAYS INNOVATIONS

Fieldays Innovations provides a platform for inventors and innovative companies to launch and develop their ideas while educating Fieldays visitors on the latest developments in the industry.

Fieldays Innovations is made up of two parts:

• Innovation Awards with categories including Prototype Established, Prototype Established, Launch NZ and International as well as several sponsor awards

• Innovation Centre located at the heart of Fieldays where all award entries and sponsors have an exhibition booth displaying and educating on their innovative products

ABOUT FIELDAYS

Fieldays is based on a 114-hectare site at Mystery Creek 10 minutes from Hamilton and is the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere.

Fieldays draws people from around the globe – both as exhibitors and visitors. In 2018 Fieldays celebrated its 50th event and saw 130,866 people visit the event, generating $492M in sales revenue for New Zealand businesses.

Fieldays is run by New Zealand National Fieldays Society, a charitable organisation founded in 1968 for the purpose of advancing primary industry.