2026 Fieldays Innovation Awards

The Fieldays Innovation Awards with AWS represent the innovation lifecycle in three award categories: Prototype, Early-Stage, and Growth & Scale. 

Special recognition is also given to younger innovators, with an award for the Fieldays Young Innovator of the Year.

All Award participants are in the running for the People's Choice Award supported by KingSt Advertising. 

The total prize package is worth over $75,000 comprising of cash, services and products to help innovators in their journey to accelerate the growth of their products.

2026 Fieldays Innovation Awards - Prototype Winner

The Prototype Award, supported by Sprout Agritech and Blender Design, was awarded to Scanabull for its Scanabull WeighApp. The solution uses 3D LiDAR and AI to deliver accurate, real-time cattle liveweights via a simple phone scan. The judges commended the product for being a highly relevant and scalable solution, noting the team’s improvements in accuracy and enhancements to the user interface.  

2026 Fieldays Innovation Awards - Early-Stage Winner

The Early-Stage Award, supported by Map of Ag, was won by Hamilton-based elert for its elert EQ device, a wearable technology designed to monitor equine health, was described as a compelling, real-world solution. 

2026 Fieldays Innovation Awards - Growth & Scale Winner

The Growth & Scale Award, supported by PwC, was awarded to Trussed Systems for its Truss House Portal Frame. The company has a strong intellectual property position, with patents secured in multiple countries and established commercial partnerships.  

2026 Fieldays Young Innovator Award Winner

The Young Innovator of the Year was awarded to Wellington-based Enivo for its biodegradable plant pots made from New Zealand forestry and primary industry waste. Enivo stood out for its consistent values across the business, a carefully considered supply and distribution chain, and strong engagement with customers and partners. The judges also highlighted Enivo’s ability to pivot in response to commercial pressures and the scope for Enivo to achieve its environmental impact goals and diversify beyond the initial product. 

Innovation Award Judges

Meet the judging pool for the Fieldays Innovation Awards with AWS. These judges are sector experts, and represent a wide range of experience from around the innovation eco-system. 

Each year a selection of these judges participate in the judging process.

JUSTIN WHITE

Zespri

Dr. Juliet Ansell

DR. JULIET ANSELL

Bragato Research Institute

Emma Poole

EMMA POOLE

Farmer/Veterinarian

KATHERINE SANDFORD

Independent Director

PETER DOWD

PETER DOWD

Anago Ltd

SHANE DOOLEY

SHANE DOOLEY

Loadrite

BRENDAN O'CONNELL

BRENDAN O'CONNELL

AgriTech New Zealand 

JACQUELINE ROWARTH

DR. JACQUELINE ROWARTH

Scientist

DR HAYDN READ

DR. HAYDN READ

Consultant

Rosie Spragg

ROSIE SPRAGG

Consultant

KEN MUNN

PwC

PROF. TONY PARKER

PROF. TONY PARKER

Massey University

ANDREW COOKE

ANDREW COOKE

Map of Ag

OLIVER McDERMOTT

Blender Design

DEBRA HALL

Independent Director

BEN SMITH

Fonterra

DON GRAY

DON GRAY

CRAIG WATKINSON

CRAIG WATKINSON

Katie Sizeland

DR KATIE SIZELAND

New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science

Jason Tuck

JASON TUCK

James & Wells

SAMUEL PARKINSON

SAMUEL PARKINSON

Virscient

Kylah Morrison

Sprout Agritech

JONATHAN PRINCE

JONATHAN PRINCE

Caliber Design

STEPHEN HOFFMAN

STEPHEN HOFFMAN

NZNFS Life Member

MARC CALLIS

Consultant

Why Participate?

Showcase to a global audience
Present your innovation to thousands of attendees and industry leaders at Fieldays®, New Zealand’s largest agricultural event.

Accelerate your innovation
Compete for a prize pool valued at over $75,000 in cash, services, and products designed to help launch or scale your innovation.

Connect with the innovation ecosystem
Engage with a panel of expert judges and tap into a wider network of mentors, partners, investors, and early adopters who can help refine, fund, and amplify your innovation.

Gain media exposure
Attract attention from national and international media outlets covering Fieldays, boosting visibility for your innovation and brand.

Entry is for an individual product/service. The business story will support the entry but judging will focus on the entered product/service.

International entries are welcome in the Early-Stage and Growth & Scale categories.

Awards participants can exhibit in the Fieldays Innovation Hub, or on a site elsewhere. All participants are included on the Innovation Trail.

Entries are welcome from across the Primary Sector:

Dairy & Beef

Innovative solutions for modern dairy farming

Lamb & Wool

Advancing livestock and fiber production

Forestry

Sustainable forest management technologies

Horticulture

Including viticulture innovations

Seafood

Aquaculture and fishing solutions

Arable

Crop production and farming systems

AgriTech

Food tech, green tech, and digital solutions

Manufacturing

Machinery, processing, and equipment

Prototype Award

Supported by Sprout Agritech and Blender Design 

Test your idea with an audience of thousands and gather on-the-spot feedback!

Early-Stage Award

Supported by Map of Ag  

Network with investors and corporate decision-makers to launch your product to the next level!

Growth & Scale Award

Supported by PwC

Connect with industry professionals and showcase your international potential!       

Young Innovator of the Year Award

All entrants in any category who are 19 years old and younger can indicate they would like to also be considered for this award, and potentially win $2,000.

Watch our recorded info session about the Fieldays Young Innovator of the Year Award

People's Choice Award

Supported by KingSt Advertising.

All participating Innovation Awards exhibitors will be in the running for the People's Choice Award, supported by KingSt Advertising. The winning entrant will receive $2,000 cash from Fieldays, and a lucky voter will receive a prize to the value of $500. 

Join the eco-system

Get information and updates about the Fieldays Innovation Awards before anyone else.

| 2025

Innovation Awards talk

Watch Emma Poole, a first time judge in the Fieldays Innovation Awards talk about the incredible entries we have received this year, and how the youth are the ones to watch!

Innovation Awards talk

Protecting your Innovation FAQs

A patent is a proprietary right in an invention. It provides the owner with the exclusive right for up to 20 years to make, sell or use a product or process. In exchange for this monopoly, the patent is published so others can see how the invention works and build on that knowledge. Once the patent lapses or expires, the invention is available for the public to use.

In New Zealand, no. Only the true and first inventor of the subject matter of the patent application, an assignee of that inventor or the estate of the inventor/assignee can apply for a patent in New Zealand. The assignee may be a person or a company.

 You can apply for a patent up to six months after displaying your innovation at the event as Fieldays will gazette the event as an industrial or international exhibition with IPONZ, 

No, to be patentable the subject matter of the application must be novel (i.e. new), inventive, and must have utility (i.e. be useful). In New Zealand patentable subject matter can include apparatus and products, processes, new uses of known products, foodstuffs and associated methods of manufacture, and some business methods and applications. However, some subject matter is excluded, such as methods of medical treatment of humans, schemes or plans, pure discoveries without an industrial use and naturally occurring substances or organisms.

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Fieldays Innovation Awards 2025

Fieldays Innovation Awards 2025

Thanking and spotlighting our Fieldays Innovation Sponsors

Innovation Awards FAQs

  • Fieldays Innovation Award - Prototype
  • Fieldays Innovation Award - Early Stage
  • Fieldays Innovation Award - Growth & Scale
  • Fieldays Young Innovator of the Year Award

The entry and Judging criteria can be viewed on our website.

Please contact our Programme Manager Steve Chappell at innovation@fieldays.co.nz who will be able to guide you on which category is best suited to your idea or invention. 

Yes, you can – and we encourage you to! You are best suited to enter Prototype Innovation category where you can showcase ideas, design and prototypes that have the potential to improve rural practices

Partners, Premier Sponsor, and Media Partner

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