Early-Stage Award

The Early-Stage category highlights innovations that have moved beyond the conceptual phase and have launched commercially as practical, real-world solutions within the last year. 

Prize package

$15,000 cash sponsored by Fieldays

$5,000 cash sponsored by Map of Ag

*Further prizes may be added

Entry Criteria  

• The entry is for an individual product/service. The overall business story will support the entry, but the judging will focus on the entered product/service
• The innovation is for the Food & Fibre sector*, or is made from a primary product
• The innovation has not been commercialised for more than 12 months (since June 2025) 
• This category is open to NZ-based and international entrants 

*Food and Fibre Sector refers to production in the following areas: Dairy, Meat & Wool, Forestry, Horticulture - including Viticulture, Seafood - including Aquaculture and Fishing, Arable, and Agri Tech - including Food Tech and Green Tech, and the activities supporting that production, including machinery, processing, and manufacturing.

Selection

Our selection panel will review your application, and let you know within 14 days if you have been successful, placed on a waitlist, or declined. In some instances, we will come back to applicants and request clarification or additional information to assist in our decision, which can extend this time frame. Applications received after 5 April will be reviewed once applications close on 24 April.   
 

First Round Judging (May 2026) 

• The judging team will judge your entry in these areas based on information provided in your entry form: The Innovation, it's market opportunity, your team, your business model, sustainability (incl. financial), and health and safety
• Five finalists will be announced
• All participants will display their innovation at Fieldays 2026
   

Finalist Judging (June 2026)

• The judges may choose to schedule an online judging session for Finalists in early June
• Finalists will be judged in person on the Wednesday morning of Fieldays
  Further details will be shared with the Finalists

Entry fees 

Entry and Fieldays Innovation Hub site - $1,500 plus GST

Entry only (if you already have a Fieldays site to exhibit at) - $700 plus GST

Fees are invoiced after you are accepted into the Awards.

These fees include:

• 8 x 1-day Fieldays tickets - these can either be allocated as 1-day or 4-day tickets, and you can purchase additional tickets as required
• A Starter directory listing. There will be an opportunity to upgrade these listings and increase your exposure
• Two complimentary invites to the Innovation Awards event   
• Access to a special discounted rate for a handheld Fieldays Smart Band device for Innovation Awards participants only

The Innovation Hub site includes a 3m wide x 3m deep site footprint in the Hub, with the following provided: