Fieldays Innovations Awards 2018 announced

Date: 14.06.2018

Innovations take centre stage on the second day at NZ Agricultural Fieldays with Innovations Awards announced early morning

The second day of the 50^th New Zealand Agricultural Fieldays^® started with the Innovations Awards breakfast. A selection of New Zealand’s top innovations featuring creative ideas on improving the country’s agricultural industry were on display.

Fieldays -Launch -NZ-Award -Agricom

Innovation is crucial for the continued success of New Zealand agriculture. Talking about the importance of innovations at Fieldays, New Zealand National Fieldays Society CEO Peter Nation, says, "One of the main reasons the New Zealand agricultural industry is so recognised and respected around the world is because of the innovations coming from awards like these."

2018 Innovation Award winners

Fieldays Grassroots Prototype Award – Acuris Systems

This prototype robot, autonomously navigates kiwifruit orchards, while capturing accurate fruit data, which can then be analysed to provide growers with quality information and insights to their orchard’s performance.

Fieldays Grassroots Established Award – Pamu Farming New Zealand

Landcorp recently completed its second season of deer milking in partnership with the Peter and Sharon McIntyre. Significant, world first research and intellectual property has been developed from behind the farm gate through to a finished RMP approved product, which Pāmu Foods can now use to assess market demand and price tolerance.

Fieldays Prototype Highly Commended – Maraeroa C Incorporation

Ginseng Berry Gin is a New Zealand first made from ginseng berries grown in Pureora. The gineng berry gin has subtle flavours and textures and also some health benefits.

Fieldays Launch NZ Highly Commended – Paysauce/Season app

It’s time to ditch paperwork. With the Season app, orchard supervisors can collect timesheet and contract rate info and push it straight to payroll in seconds.

Fieldays Launch NZ Award – Agricom / Ecotain environmental plantain

Ecotain is an environmentally functional plantain that uses four independent mechanisms to reduce nitrogen leaching from the urine patch, as well as being a high quality, winter active forage.