Royal Innovation Award 2026
Closing date for entries is Friday 21st November 2025.
The Royal Dairy Innovation Award celebrates outstanding innovation shaping the future of the dairy industry. It is presented to a company exhibiting at Dairy-Tech whose product or service demonstrates the most significant innovation for the dairy sector.
Applicants are invited to submit a written description of their product or service, explaining how it benefits dairy producers. Entries can be made via the online entry form.
A shortlist will be compiled from all submissions, and the finalists will be judged at Dairy-Tech on Wednesday, 4 February 2026. The winner will be announced at the show and presented with the award by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. In addition to a trophy, the winner will receive a 10% discount (up to £300) on their stand booking for Dairy-Tech 2027.
Judging will be carried out by an expert panel appointed by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF). The panel will include specialists with expertise in practical farming, research and development, education, and the commercial application of products. Judges will be entirely independent of the award entrants.
The judges will award points as follows:
Contents of the product/service insofar as it promotes sound agricultural practice or technique in any aspect of dairy farming: 40 points
Innovatory aspects of the product/service (introductions of new ideas, systems or principles):
40 points
Effectiveness of presentation in attracting attention and communicating the principle, practice or system being promoted: 10 points
Effectiveness of supporting literature or materials: 10 points
Total 100 points
A shortlist of three finalists will be selected and invited to give a presentation or demonstration on the Innovation Hub stage at Dairy-Tech on 4 February 2026, in front of the judges and a wider audience. Each finalist will receive a Finalist Certificate to display on their stand at the event.
The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the Innovation Hub programme. Representatives from the winning company will then be invited to receive a signed and framed certificate and a trophy from the Princess Royal.
Closing date for entries: Friday, 21 November 2025
Conditions of entry
The competition is open to any individual, research centre, educational establishment, agricultural organisation or trade exhibitors staging a specific demonstration/exhibit at Dairy-Tech 2026 (provided their entry complies with the conditions of the competition)
Entries, for which no fee is payable, must be submitted on the official entry form and signed by a senior representative of the organisation concerned.
Each entry must be accompanied by a detailed description of the exhibit along with supporting literature, links to on-line demonstrations etc.
Entries making a claim for a new development/product must produce, with their entry, evidence/trial results for the judges to evaluate.
A company/individual may only make a single entry which must be displayed at Dairy-Tech 2026.
Information on all products/services must be submitted to RABDF for confirmation of eligibility.
The selected finalists will be judged at Dairy-Tech and will be expected to give a presentation/demonstration in the Innovation Hub at an allocated time. The results will be announced at Dairy-Tech.
By submitting this form, I confirm that I wish to enter the above product/service for the Royal Dairy Innovation Award 2026, subject to the conditions, a copy of which I have read and understood. I further undertake to ensure that this entry form is returned to the RABDF by the 21st November 2025 and it is accompanied by a description of the product/service and supporting documentation/evidence. I accept that the decision of the judges shall be final.
2025 Winners - Hoofcount
PediVue Lameness Detection Device from Hoofcount was named winner of the Royal Dairy Innovation Award at Dairy-Tech 2025 (5 February).
Hoofcount’s automatic footbath system, which has been installed on a significant number of dairy units throughout the UK and overseas, is helping to reduce and control lameness, particularly digital dermatitis.
2024 saw the official launch of PediVue, a groundbreaking lameness detection device designed to daily visualise changes to hoof health, provide early detection of any potential issues and in turn, enable dairy farmers to make the earliest treatment.
The PediVue device uses a high-speed camera to take footage of the moving hooves each time the cow steps away from the footbath, enabling farmers to easily identify digital dermatitis lesions around three to four weeks before they are visible to either farmer or foot trimmer, ie at the M2 active stage, before they reach the M4 chronic stage.
Early detection combined with prompt effective treatment, is a critical part of managing digital dermatitis on farm; it not only helps cows to quickly recover, but also reduces the risk of further spread since cows with lesions are a major reservoir of new infection.
Head Judge and RABDF Vice Chairman, Tim Downes says: “This year’s winner of the Royal Innovation Award uses novel technology to have a positive impact on animal health and welfare, also leading to multiple benefits to the environment, business profitability and labour efficiency.”
2025 Winner - Hoofcount
2024 Winner - Bimeda UK
2023 Winner- SmaXtec
2022 Winner- CattleEye
2021 Winner- Trident Feeds NovaPro
2020 Winner - Zoetis
2019 Winner - PBD Biotech
2018 Winner - Semex
2016 Winner - FRS Network Developments
2015 Winner - DeLaval
2014 Winner - Genus ABS
2013 Winner - Milkrite
2012 Winner - Ridgeway Science Ltd
2011 Winner - Dairy Spares Ltd
2010 Winner - XL Vets
2009 Winner - GEA Farm Technologies
2008 Winner - Ecolab Ltd