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A Kaiwaka-based agritech company is among a new wave of innovators bringing artificial intelligence to New Zealand farms, after being selected for the Early-Stage category at the this year’s Fieldays Innovation Awards.
FarmShop’s “FarmFix” is an AI-powered assistant designed to help farmers quickly troubleshoot machinery issues by providing instant, cited answers sourced from operator manuals, spare parts catalogues and FarmShop’s own knowledge base. The tool is available around the clock on any device, aiming to reduce downtime and improve access to technical information in the field.
FarmFix is one of 58 innovations selected to feature at this year’s Fieldays Innovation Awards, which will be held at Mystery Creek from June 10 to 13. The awards programme showcases emerging ideas and technologies designed to improve productivity, safety and efficiency across the primary industries.
This year’s finalists reflect a growing focus on digital technology, automation and AI-driven solutions for the rural sector.
“People will notice the awards look different from 10 to 15 years ago, because of the breadth of entries, and the evolution of technologies,” National Fieldays Society programme manager Steve Chappell says.
“But as we near the 60th year of the awards, I’m pleased that they still showcase the new, bold and practical solutions they always have.”
Participants are divided into three development stages, with 27 entrants in the Prototype category, 18 in the Early-Stage category – supported by Map of Ag – and 13 in the Growth & Scale category, backed by PwC.
The awards programme is designed to connect innovators with investors, mentors and industry experts, while also giving them direct access to farmers and growers attending Fieldays.
“Fieldays is where start-ups can move from a viable concept to international impact,” Chappell says.
“It’s nice to see entrants working their way through the categories again this year, and being inspired by the success stories of previous awards entrants.”
Amazon Web Services (AWS) will return as a sponsor this year and take on the role of overall programme sponsor, highlighting the increasing role of cloud computing, data and AI in agricultural innovation.
“AWS is committed to supporting Aotearoa’s agriculture sector and the innovators shaping its future,” AWS country manager Manuel Bohnet says.
“The Fieldays Innovation Awards highlight the ingenuity of Kiwi founders, researchers and growers, and we’re proud to play a supporting role in helping their solutions grow, scale and reach global markets.”
Chappell says the rise in AI-focused entries has been expected and reflects wider trends in the industry.
“We’ve seen a marked increase in AI-based solutions this year, and we’re looking forward to reviewing how the awards evolve to adapt to change while remaining true to the practical heart of the programme.”
Entrants are competing for a share of more than $75,000 in cash, products and services, while the People’s Choice Award will again allow Fieldays visitors to vote for their favourite innovation throughout the event.
