Turning food waste into biofuel and fertiliser can be smelly work.
But the young directors of Kaika Energy say it is worth it, after being chosen as one of the five finalists in the people's choice category at the New Zealand Innovators Awards.
Earlier this month, the biotechnology company established by the Kaikorai Valley College's Young Enterprise Scheme pupils was named a finalist in the Young New Zealand Innovator category alongside tertiary students and small companies.
Kaika Energy's directors are the youngest finalists, and the first secondary school finalists, in the competition's history.
The 80 finalists in the New Zealand Innovators Awards were entered in the people's choice category, and after 63,000 votes were cast online, Kaika Energy was named one of the final five companies, alongside Eat My Lunch, Ogo Technology, OpthalmicDocs and Rhondium.
Voting continues online until 5pm on Friday to select a winner from the final five.
The winner will be announced at the New Zealand Innovators Awards in Auckland on October 21.
Kaikorai Valley College technology department head and young enterprise scheme supervisor Peter Dodds said the company directors were ''stoked'' to have made the final five.
''It's pretty awesome to be a finalist in two categories of this competition - it's amazing.''
Earlier this year, the school installed a biodigester which breaks down organic material (food waste), and turns it into biofuel and high-grade liquid fertiliser.
The company aims to sell the fertiliser publicly as early as next month, in recycled plastic milk bottles at the Dunedin Farmers Market.
Before the end of this year, the company hopes to build a greenhouse and use methane from the biodigester to heat the glasshouse, and the CO2 would be used to help grow the plants.
The company also plans to purchase a generator that runs on biofuel, and use it to power a hot-water cylinder which heats the heating pad for the biodigester.
The awards recognise and celebrate innovative, high-growth New Zealand organisations, and have helped organisations across many industry sectors get connected to a wide range of partners, multinational organisations and private investors searching for Kiwi companies to work with.
New Zealand Innovation Council chief executive Louise Webster said the finalists represented ''game changing innovation'' from every corner of the country, with new products and services from a broad range of industries and business disciplines.
Finalist innovations included electric farm bikes, dairy-free cheese, anti-cancer treatments and free school lunches.
''These are ordinary Kiwis doing extraordinary things,'' Ms Webster said.
Into the final
People's choice finalists in the New Zealand Innovators Awards.-
Kaika Energy: A biotech venture which turns food waste into biofuel and fertiliser.
Eat My Lunch: An online lunch ordering service. For every lunch purchased, another freshly made lunch is delivered to a Kiwi child in need.
Ogo Technology: A revolutionary personal transportation and mobility device.
OpthalmicDocs: A company which aims to transform the ophthalmic instrument industry by creating innovative and affordable ophthalmic equipment.
Rhondium One Visit Crown: A new hybrid ceramic dental crown.
To vote: www.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/imagecentre/people-s-choice-2015
