What’s behind the ag-data logo? An examination of voluntary agricultural-data codes of practice

Main Article Content

Jay Sanderson
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9029-8255
Leanne Wiseman
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3768-4103
Sam Poncini

Abstract

In this article, we analyse agricultural data (ag-data) codes of practice. After the introduction, Part II examines the emergence of ag-data codes of practice and provides two case studies—the American Farm Bureau’s Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data and New Zealand’s Farm Data Code of Practice—that illustrate that the ultimate aims of ag-data codes of practice are inextricably linked to consent, disclosure, transparency and, ultimately, the building of trust. Part III highlights the commonalities and challenges of ag-data codes of practice. In Part IV several concluding observations are made. Most notably, while ag-data codes of practice may help change practices and convert complex details about ag-data contracts into something tangible, understandable and useable, it is important for agricultural industries to not hastily or uncritically accept or adopt ag-data codes of practice. There needs to be clear objectives, and a clear direction in which stakeholders want to take ag-data practices. In other words, stakeholders need to be sure about what they are trying, and able, to achieve with ag-data codes of practice. Ag-data codes of practice need credible administration, accreditation and monitoring. There also needs to be a way of reviewing and evaluating the codes in a more meaningful way than simple metrics such as the number of members: for example, we need to know something about whether the codes raise awareness and education around data practices, and, perhaps most importantly, whether they encourage changes in attitudes and behaviours around the access to and use of ag-data.

Article Details

Section
Articles (PEER REVIEWED)
Author Biographies

Jay Sanderson, USC Australia USC Law School

Associate Professor Jay Sanderson is an interdisciplinary researcher who holds degrees in law, psychology and science. He researches and publishes in the areas of food, agriculture and law. He was a Chief Investigator on the Accelerating Precision: Agriculture to Decision Agriculture (P2D) project, supported by funding from the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program. Led by CRDC, the P2D project involved all Rural Research and Development Corporations.

Leanne Wiseman, Griffith Law School Griffith University

Associate Professor Leanne Wiseman is Associate Director of the Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture (ACIPA) and an Associate Professor in Law at Griffith University. She is a Chief Investigator on the project Accelerating Precision: Agriculture to Decision Agriculture. The project is a partnership between all 15 of Australia’s rural research and development corporations (RDCs),(see http://www.ruralrdc.com.au/rural-rdcs/) led by CRDC, and includes other research partners such as Data 2 Decisions CRC, CSIRO, UNE and USC Australia.

Sam Poncini, USC Law School USC Australia

Sam is a Research Assistant in the USC Law School, and a Law Honours candidate where he is researching privacy law.

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