Central Districts Field Days is set to feature an inspiring new area to showcase the latest agricultural innovations, with the ASB Innovation Zone debuting at the highly anticipated event in March.
Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries, will open the new ASB Innovation Zone on the morning of Thursday 16 March.
It will showcase the latest in rural innovation and development concepts, and will include a seminar series to inspire and engage event-goers with new ways of thinking in the industry.
A collaboration between ASB, Central Districts Field Days and New Zealand AgriFood Investment Week, the ASB Innovation Zone recognises that many attendees visit Central Districts Field Days to keep abreast of industry developments to help grow their businesses.
Fairfax Media national events manager Brett McMeekin says the ASB Innovation Zone was created to inspire visitors with all the new products, technologies, and methods we know are a large part of the New Zealand agri-industry.
"Fortunately for us, ASB shares a similar future-focused mindset in their desire to foster innovation in the industry and our partnership means we're able to offer something quite special at this year's Central District's Field Days," says McMeekin.
"Visitors to the ASB Innovation Zone will be offered a unique window into the future of New Zealand's agri-industry, giving them exposure to emerging technology and developments that are beginning to transform farming functions in ways once inconceivable."
ASB head of rural business management Jane Brice says ASB is proud to support the new zone, offering inspiration to help young and emerging rural companies to succeed.
"ASB has a strong history of innovation and the ASB Innovation Zone is a natural fit with our commitment to the agri business sector alongside the AgriFood Investment Week," Brice says.
"The zone will be an event highlight for the ASB rural team."
Now in its 23rd year, Central Districts Field Days is a key event in the region, rounding out the programme of the New Zealand AgriFood Investment Week, which is returning for the second time this year.
AgriFood Investment Week (13-18 March) is designed to help New Zealand agrifood businesses succeed through the development of innovation, investment and people.
Led and project-managed by Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA), chairman Malcolm Bailey says he believes innovation is all about creating value.
"Innovation and the value it adds comes in many different forms, enabling efficiency and product growth, as well as growing the top line," says Bailey.
"Those of us in the business of food can never feel like we are in our comfort zones - the way things have been is not the way things will always be. Instead we need to make sure farmers and everyone along the value chain can deliver what the consumer wants - the ASB Innovation Zone provides another space for these conversations to occur during the AgriFood Investment Week."
The ASB Innovation Zone will be unmissable at Central Districts Field Days 2017, with 10 exhibitors joining Massey University and ASB in the site.
Massey University will feature leading-edge developments in smart agriculture including the latest prototype of the pasture robot being developed with C-Dax as well as the Hyperceptions service that captures images with aerial surveys and in the laboratory.
Farm IQ, which provides farm management software on a mobile app, is making its debut at Central Districts Field Days.
Local company Levno will showcase its sensor-linked bluetooth technology that enables farmers to remotely monitor milk, water and fuel, something that has never been done before.
Sheep Milk New Zealand will have a chef inside the zone cooking up some extraordinary foods using sheep milk products as well as showcasing the production of yoghurt and other dairy products from sheep milk.
The seminar series will include practical workshops, panel discussions and the AgTech Hackathon: Manawatu Dragon's Den.
A number of topics will be discussed including the power of agritech, connecting food producers with international customers and a debate on genetic modification.
Exhibitors include Agri-Optics, AgriMap, Andweeder, ASB, FarmIQ, Hyundai IONIQ, Levno, Massey University, Sheep Milk New Zealand and Tribal.
• The area housing the best in central districts food has also had a revamp, and is now called the Cuisine of Central Districts. It features several premium food vendors and a new seating area for visitors to relax in, and sits alongside the well-loved food and drink exhibitors in an area that this year will include bars that run to 6pm.
• Crowd favourite events the CLAAS Tractor Pull, the National Excavator Championships and the Central Districts fencing competition return, as well as the Nutro Ultimate Canines dog show and more.
• Visitors also have the chance to win the coveted Suzuki Rural Prize pack. The prize pack includes a new Suzuki quad bike coupled with a Brent Smith Trailer filled with farm-related prizes, valued at over $20,000.
• Central Districts Field Days now coincides with the AgriFood Investment Week, a programme of activities and events designed to connect, challenge and grow the agrifood industry.
• AgriFood Investment Week, now in its second year, ties together innovation in farming, food production, marketing, investment, research and technology and includes the NZ Agribusiness Investment Showcase, Sheep Milk NZ Conference, Future Farms Conference and Women in Agribusiness Thought Leadership Forum.
• Meanwhile, CD Field Days tickets are available at the gate on the day or online for $15 at cdfielddays.co.nz, which also provides more event information.