Malone Farm Machinery, the Mayo-based machinery company, has been named the overall winner of the 2020 Innovation Arena awards, run by Enterprise Ireland and the National Ploughing Association.

Malone won the award for its latest product – a new, purpose-built round bale chaser with the capacity to carry 16 bales at a time.

There were also 10 other awards handed out under different categories, for products and innovations developed by ag-tech and agribusiness companies over the last year.

Category winners

  • Overall award for best start-up: Iamus Technology.
  • Sustainability award: Hexafly.
  • Safety award – established company: Dromone Engineering.
  • Safety award – start-up company: Dickson Agri Solutions (Third Arm).
  • Best software award: Equine MediRecord.
  • Young Innovator award: Fence DeFence.
  • On-farm Innovator award: Bullseye Engineering.
  • Under 10-years engineering award: SUIP manufacturing.
  • Best engineering start-up: StrongBó.
  • IFAC award: StrongBó.
  • Next week

    In next week’s Irish Farmers Journal, we will carry a special supplement with in-depth features on the winners of the 2020 Innovation Arena, as well as a look back on the history of the awards over the last decade.