Innovation, discovery and achievement making a positive contribution, impact or benefit to irrigation is set to be rewarded by the industry’s national body.
Irrigation NZ (INZ), in association with Waterforce, has this week launched the inaugural “Innovation in Irrigation’ award.
The award invites people doing exceptional things with their irrigation, individuals, groups or companies who are making a positive contribution, impact or benefit to irrigation in New Zealand to highlight their innovation.
The award is to celebrate, encourage and promote innovation.
“INZ is looking to recognise and reward the positive initiatives being undertaken in our communities with irrigation, and as a result of irrigation,” INZ business manager Chris Coughlan said.
The irrigation sector often feels frustrated over misconception of its industry as the wider community demands irrigators to be efficient with water and considerate of the environment.
Innovation is the potential for new knowledge to have a positive impact on irrigation through technology or in a manner that will enhance the economic, social, cultural or environmental aspects of irrigation.
“This is the chance for everyone to get involved and highlight the innovation that is happening and encourage more of it,” Coughlan said.
Nominations from irrigators, schemes, water user groups, environmental groups, industry, university students and researchers are now being sought and close on March 1, 2010.
The official award presentation will be held at the INZ conference in Christchurch, April 26-28.
Although the innovation may have evolved over a longer period of time, to be eligible the innovation must be able to show a clear impact to irrigation in New Zealand in the past five years.
The overall winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500 and the honour of being the inaugural winner of this prestigious ‘Innovation in Irrigation’ award.
The inaugural award is proudly sponsored by WaterForce.
Paul Donaldson of WaterForce says it is exciting to be associated with Irrigation NZ and the innovation award as innovation fits right in with the ethos of WaterForce.
“Kiwis are innovative, particularly in the agricultural sector, and WaterForce is striving to promote optimisation of New Zealand’s water resources and deliver solutions within the irrigation industry.
“This award is exactly what WaterForce is about. WaterForce evolved out of desire to be Kiwi owned and operated – this is a strong Kiwi award, for Kiwis and WaterForce has a very close connection with that. We are proud to be associated with the award in conjunction with such a leader in the industry as Irrigation NZ,” Donaldson said.
For more details and nomination/entry forms go to www.irrigationnz.co.nz
Further comment:
Chris Coughlan – INZ business manager
03 3793820 or 027 671 7705