Burke Innovation Trophy awarded to Bennamann Biogas Upgrader and refuelling system

The 2026 Burke Innovation Trophy was presented by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh at Devon County Show on Thursday 21st May.

The award celebrates machinery and technology helping farmers improve productivity and efficiencies in response to increasing economic and environmental pressures facing the agricultural sector. It is presented annually at a regional agricultural show in England, alongside the Burke dairy and beef trophies.

This year, the overall winner was the Bennamann Biogas Upgrader and refuelling system, with the award presented to Courtney Lucas from Bennamann Ltd.

Richard Gueterbock from Foodchains, who supported Devon County Show with the organisation of the Burke Innovation competition, shares that the winning machine stood out because it is preparing the way to move away from reliance on red diesel. “The only small scale upgrader currently on the market, it allows farms to fuel up to five tractors from biomethane produced on-farm,” he says.

The reserve champion award was presented to the Fendt e107 Vario battery powered small tractor. “Equivalent in weight to the diesel version, this electric tractor enables farm businesses producing their own electricity to utilise that power in a small tractor,” Mr Gueterbock says.

The QuickClip easy to install fence system and CowRecoveryTM System for movement of casualty cattle were also commended.

Holly Shearman, head of Farm of the Future programmes at the Royal Agricultural Society of England, comments that the Innovation Burke Trophy competition demonstrates how agricultural machinery and technologies are continually innovating in response to evolving pressures.

“There’s numerous examples of machinery in this competition that offer real solutions to respond to labour shortages, the need to enable the circular use of resources, increase farm profitability and reduce emissions,” she says.