Ethics in Agricultural (Ag) Data

The problem addressed Agricultural data span from field and farm data to scientific and research data to agricultural market data etc. These data are key in fundamental public-good level contexts: food production; transparency of agri-food value chains (traceability, certification, food safety); compliance evidence (for credit, insurance, subsidies, certification); risk management (early warnings), market and trade; and measuring impact. While having these data are essential, the fact that some of these data are of a sensitive nature, and the fact that power imbalances in agri-food value chains affect the way these data flows and who benefits the most, have strong ethical consequences.

The WG will address the ethical issues related to the treatment of agricultural data, focusing especially on the challenges and risks for the most marginalized actors in the data value chains: smallholder farmers and indigenous people. These groups are expected or asked to contribute data and be transparent, but have no voice in how data are used and are not the beneficiaries of the data revolution and digital transformation in general to which they contribute.

Addressing these issues requires moving from the abstract philosophical level to the practical level: producing/assembling sets of actionable guidelines for different actors on how to treat agricultural data ethically, respecting the rights of all parties involved and in particular those of the weaker actors, so that the benefits are equally shared.

Mission The Ethics in Ag Data WG strives to establish actionable guidelines for the ethical collection, use, processing, and sharing of agricultural data.

Vision To convene experts from diverse fields, interest groups and regions to co-develop, exchange, and endorse adaptable ethical guidelines for agricultural data across diverse contexts.

Objectives To co-create a framework of guidelines and recommendations for the ethical treatment of agricultural data that can be widely adopted/endorsed by farmers, diverse researchers, practitioners, institutions and other relevant actors.