Fieldays celebrates innovation

The Fieldays Innovation Award winners, announced at a gala last night, exemplify the full innovation lifecycle, encompassing three award categories: Prototype, Early-Stage, and Growth & Scale. 

The judging process involved the expertise of numerous judges, who lent their insight and knowledge to identify the most remarkable innovations. The awards also paid tribute to the younger generation of innovators, culminating in the presentation of the prestigious Fieldays Young Innovator of the Year Award.

 Peter Nation, chief executive of the New Zealand National Fieldays Society, acknowledged the standard of entrants and their willingness to give it a go.

“Fieldays is the home of innovation and it started here in 1968 with Shoof owner Geoff Laurent taking money tagged by wife Bev for a family couch purchase and entered the awards instead. Highlighting the Kiwi number 8 wire mentality of having a crack and backing yourself. That braveness and can-do attitude are again evident in this year’s entrants,” said Nation. 

The 2023 Young Innovator of the Year Award winner was St Paul’s Collegiate School with their Capra Skin Goats Milk lip balm.

The student group, who placed in the top three of the school’s version of the Shark Tank, The St Paul’s 2023 Crocodile Pit. Where students are put to the test to create a new agri-business product and service and learn the process of pitching innovation and business strategy. 

The Judges commented on how the group had identified a need, formulating steps and iterations to come up with a final product to make a real difference to its target market of youth combining primary products and the benefits that come with these. 

The 2023 Prototype Award winner was local dairy pioneers Waikato Milking Systems for their ErgoPOD. Aimed at both the local and international market, the ErgoPOD provides a step change in milking and revolutionises the way cups are presented and managed in the milking shed. 

Early-Stage Award winner for 2023 was won by eClean Envirotech. Exhibiting within the new Fieldays Sustainability Hub this year, this team has blended strong contemporary science and Mātauranga Māori authentically.  With Kawa and Tikanga of traditional Māori science.  

The final award of the evening, the 2023 Growth & Scale Award went to first-time entrants Wilderlab. 

Wilderlab, the 2023 Growth & Scale Award Winners.

Wilderlab embody a unique New Zealand approach to protecting and mapping our environment through their environmental DNA monitoring solution.

Steve Chappell, Fieldays Programme Manager, says that the calibre of this year’s entrants was incredibly high and even more outstanding considering the quick turnaround.

“This demonstrates how the innovation eco-system is thriving, it’s fantastic.  The judges had a difficult time selecting the winners and we echo their sentiment and wish the entrants luck for the future”.