Safer Farms has launched a new white paper at Fieldays, Safer By Design: The Role of Technology in Farm Safety, exploring how technology can remove agricultural risks before work even begins.

Despite ongoing industry efforts, New Zealand agriculture continues to face high rates of injury. In 2025 alone, ACC accepted more than 17,000 work-related agricultural claims, paying out $119 million in recovery costs.

ACC head of injury prevention Renee Graham said traditional safety rules rely too heavily on people making the right decisions when they are tired or stressed.

"The biggest safety gains can come from technology that reduces how much people have to rely on split-second judgement," Graham said. "That includes technology that keeps people out of the most dangerous situations, makes risky jobs safer, or warns about hazards before someone gets hurt."

The paper highlights tools like drones, autonomous machinery, virtual fencing, and proximity sensors that protect farmers from rollovers, livestock interactions, and dangerous terrain.

Safer Farms Ambassador Lindy Nelson emphasised that for widespread adoption, technology must be viewed as a tool for overall farm improvement rather than a compliance burden.

"Farmers are more likely to invest in new systems when they also improve productivity, reduce workload, or make the farm run better," Nelson said. "Safety matters, but it is usually one of several reasons for making a change."

The white paper was launched at Fieldays on Thursday 11 June 2026 at and is available for download here.