AquaWatch has been the recipient of two Fieldays Innovation Awards, awarded the Innovation in Data Award in 2019 and the Growth & Scale Award in 2022.

These accolades highlight AquaWatch's cutting-edge solutions transforming how we can manage waterways, ensuring cleaner and healthier oceans, rivers, and streams.   

Founded by father-son duo Grant and James Muir, AquaWatch was born from the need to address the growing water quality challenges faced by their farm in Wairarapa. What started as a solution to monitor water quality quickly grew into a scalable, globally relevant technology.  

"Fieldays is a true incubator for innovation," says Abi Croutear-Foy, Managing Director at AquaWatch. "There aren’t many spaces in New Zealand that actually bring together innovation in one place; where people can talk to one another and really interact, and Fieldays genuinely does that. Winning the Fieldays Growth & Scale Award was a game-changer for us”.  

Since 2022, they have changed their name to AquaWatch (previously RiverWatch). “What we realised was the lessons that we learned are applicable to almost every other environment that we need to manage water in,” says Croutear-Foy.  

The Award prize provided crucial public relations support from KingSt Advertising, allowing us to rebrand and refine our messaging. “The mentorship we received through the Soda program helped us define our value proposition and chart a clear path for global expansion".

For businesses like AquaWatch, Fieldays offers more than just a platform to showcase products. It provides tangible benefits, such as access to mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and the chance to engage with a global audience. For many innovators, the support provided by Fieldays, combined with the exposure at the event, directly translates into accelerated business development and international growth.

"The Fieldays community is one of the most supportive ecosystems for innovation I've experienced," Croutear-Foy added. "The mentorship and connections we've received have been invaluable. Even years after the event, we continue to lean on the relationships we built at Fieldays, such as NZTE and Callaghan Innovation, to help drive our business forward. It's more than just an event; it's a thriving ecosystem that fosters growth, collaboration, and success."

With its success in New Zealand and Ireland, AquaWatch is now setting its sights on further expansion in the UK and beyond. The feedback we got at Fieldays was vital in helping to make the science accessible and put it into action overseas, where regulation in Ireland and the EU is already there.  

"It's a product that comes from the farming space, and that's been amazing for us because what it's driven is practicality. I think so much innovation from the agricultural sector can cross over into other areas because it has that grounding."

"The future of AquaWatch will be taking the lessons we've learned here in New Zealand, and building on our global reputation for innovation in water technology, to share those solutions with the world."

The process of entering the Fieldays Innovation Awards is simple, with categories designed to highlight innovations across different growth levels. Applicants can submit their innovations for review by an expert panel of judges, who will assess them based on their impact, sustainability, scalability, and potential to transform the agricultural landscape.

Whether you want to network or gain valuable insights, this is the place to be. "Fieldays isn't just about viewing innovations—it's about engaging with the pioneers behind them," says Fieldays Programme Manager Steve Chappell. "The event offers an incredible platform for thought-provoking discussions with industry experts shaping the future of farming."

Fieldays Innovation Awards are kindly supported by Sponsors Map of Ag, Gait International, King St. Advertising, NZME, Sprout Agritech, and Blender Design.  

Further details, including entry criteria, can be viewed here. Awards participants' entries will be displayed during Fieldays 11-14 June 2025 in the Fieldays Innovation Hub and around the event.