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The bright ideas of New Zealand’s primary sector were celebrated recently at the 2026 Fieldays Innovation Awards.
Several of the winning technologies are likely to resonate with local farmers and growers, showcasing innovations that make life for farmers, growers and lifestylers easier and more efficient.
New Zealand National Fieldays Society programme manager Steve Chappell says the awards have evolved significantly over the past decade, reflecting the breadth of new entries and rapid development of technology.
“The awards continue to evolve and serve as a marker for progress in New Zealand,” he says. “We’ve seen a marked increase in AI-based solutions this year, which was expected, and we’re looking at the awards structure after this year’s Fieldays to see how we need to shift to make sure we adapt to change.”
Waikato’s Elert won the Early-Stage Award for elert EQ, a wearable device designed to monitor the health and performance of horses.
Scanabull won the Prototype Award for its AI-powered WeighApp, which uses a phone scan to generate an estimate of cattle liveweights.
The People’s Choice Award was given to The PostMate for its tractor or digger-mounted device designed to safely remove fence posts.
Other winning initiatives included:
The Young Innovator of the Year Award was awarded to Enivo for its biodegradable plant pots made from New Zealand forestry and primary industry waste.
The Growth & Scale Award was presented to Trussed Systems for its Truss House Portal Frame, a precision-engineered system designed to speed up and reduce the cost of residential construction.
Elm Lab Skincare received the Early-Stage Highly Commended Award for its A2 Colostrum Baby Lotion sourced from a traceable family dairy farm.
The awards play an important role in backing New Zealand’s agricultural sector and the innovators shaping its future, says Manuel Bohnet from award sponsors Amazon Web Services.
“The Fieldays Innovation Awards highlight the ingenuity of Kiwi founders, researchers, and growers,” he adds. “We’re proud to play a supporting role in helping their solutions grow, scale and reach global markets.”
