20 May 2026

FIELDAYS HIGHLIGHTS TOP INNOVATION FINALISTS 

Traditional practical inventions are well represented in the finalists of this year’s Fieldays Innovation Awards with Amazon Web Services (AWS). From a pool of 57 exhibiting participants, a total of 19 stand-out entries have been named as finalists and are moving on to the final round of judging, taking place during Fieldays.

“It is fantastic to see the rise of artificial intelligence in the mix, but the judges have also selected on-farm solutions, proving that tried-and-true problem solving remains just as important as new ways”, says Fieldays Programme Manager Steve Chappell.  

“We want to say a massive thank you to the whole judging team, led by 2026 head judges Justin White, Emma Poole, Juliet Ansell, and Katherine Sandford. It is a tough task, and they have done a fantastic job”.

The Young Innovator of the Year category features eligible applicants who are under 20. “It’s inspiring to see so many young people stepping forward with ideas that tackle real problems and improve everyday life,” says Chappell.  

Finalists for the Young Innovator of the Year Award:

• Enivo (Biodegradable plant pots)
• St Paul's Collegiate School - PigProp (a portable pigtail standard carrier)
• St Paul's Collegiate School - SmoothSip (a screw‑on filter)
• St Paul's Collegiate School - Tractor Armour (a front‑end guard designed to protect tractors)

The Prototype Award, supported by Sprout Agritech and Blender Design, provides a platform for innovators to test and refine their non-commercialised ideas.

Finalists for the Prototype Award supported by Sprout Agritech and Blender Design:

• Agnition Ventures - Veld (a tool that shows productivity, opportunity, and risk for land)
• Scanabull - Scanabull WeighApp (live cattle weights using a phone app)
• Sterineedle (a clip‑on holster to sterilise livestock vaccination needles)
• Watts Tech - Gate Keeper (automation for existing farm gates)
• Wild Harvest Solutions Limited - STLKR app (a digital platform for pest deer management)

The Early-Stage Award, supported by Map of Ag, features finalists who’ve launched commercially in the past year.  

Finalists for the Early-Stage Award supported by Map of Ag:

• DAGI Limited - DAGI (Drench and Grazing Integration) (a farm app for paddock-level worm risk)
• Elert EQ (a wearable monitoring device for horses)
• Elm Lab Skincare - (an A2 Colostrum Baby Lotion)
• Enivo (Biodegradable plant pots)
• Harvest Electronics - Fixed Grid Valve Control Remote (an irrigation flow controller and fault detector)

The Growth & Scale Award, supported by PwC, showcases participants who have launched within the last four years and are active in New Zealand and at least one other global market.

Finalists for the Growth & Scale Award supported by PwC:  

• Bovonic - QuadSense (an in‑line mastitis screening system)
• The Helical Company - Helical (genomic prediction for livestock breeding)
• MSD Animal Health - Bovilis Cryptium® (a cryptosporidiosis vaccine for pregnant cows)
• T&R Interior Systems - FLOC (100% New Zealand wool acoustic panelling)
• Trussed Systems - Truss House Portal Frame (a precision-engineered timber portal frame system)

Full details about the finalists’ innovations, and those of all participants, can be found at www.fieldays.co.nz/innovation

The Innovations can be viewed during Fieldays in the Fieldays Innovation Hub, or on the Fieldays Innovation Trail layer, which can be turned on in the Fieldays App.

Winners will be revealed at the Awards ceremony on Thursday, 12 June from 5:45pm, streamed live on the Fieldays Facebook and YouTube pages.  

Visitors can also vote for their favourite innovation in the People’s Choice Award, supported by KingSt Advertising. All 57 Awards participants are in the running and stand to take home a $2,000 cash prize from Fieldays, while one lucky voter will win a voucher for $500. The public is encouraged to cast their votes in the Fieldays Innovation Hub throughout the event.

The Awards are kindly supported by sponsors AWS, Map of Ag, Blender Design, Sprout Agritech, KingSt. Advertising, AgriTech New Zealand, and PwC.  

View all participating entries