AHDB seeks farmer views on data sharing code of practice

[News]

UK farmers are being asked for their views to help AHDB shape a code of practice which will promote safe sharing of data across the industry.

Once developed, the code will provide a framework of trust and transparency, so farmers are confident they know what will happen with their data when sharing with the agri-food sector.

"The use of data is transforming every industry, including agriculture, and we need to have the systems in place to embrace this. The lack of a coherent set of principles that the agri-food sector can sign up to is, we believe, a significant gap which means data is not being shared in the volumes we'd like to see," said Tom Hind, AHDB Chief Strategy Officer.

"There are potentially huge productivity gains to be made from better data sharing throughout the supply chain. But these will not be realised unless farmers are confident that their data will be used responsibly and its use supports their business."

Data sharing codes in agriculture have started to emerge in the past few years in New Zealand, the US and Europe. The main driver for these has been to protect farmers' rights in relation to data that's come from their farming operations.

"It is crucial farmers have confidence that they control their data and where they release or share that control it's clear under what terms and conditions this is done," said Rezare Systems UK's managing director Julian Gairdner, who is leading the project for AHDB.

"The code we developed in New Zealand was strongly focused on this and has subsequently lead to other initiatives to standardise data and provide flexible technologies to transmit and share it."

Over the summer, Rezare conducted a series of industry stakeholder workshops to understand the key issues around data sharing and to help develop a draft code of practice.

"Over 60 organisations and farmers took part," Mr Gairdner confirmed. "But now we need more farmers to have their say through the online survey. It's a relatively short questionnaire that should take around five minutes. It will allow us to gauge farmer views on the importance of sharing data, the relevance of a code, and how it should operate and be governed."

The survey, which can be found at https://www.ahdb.org.uk/unlocking-the-potential-of-farm-data–survey, will run until Friday 30 November.

The aim is to share the code of practice and recommendations for roll out in the new year.

 

[colhonk]

NO. The only people to benifit will be everyone BUT the farmer.

 

[An Gof]

No, No , No.
So this is what the push for Benchmarking was for.
I’m happy to benchmark but NOT have my data used for other AHDB purposes.
In any event there are such large holes in the fixed cost data in benchmarking that one has to question the true value of the bottom line outputs.
This proposal is potentially very damaging to producer levy payers. No doubt trade levy payers will see it as a brilliant idea.

 

[topground]

No doubt driven by the supermarket cartel who are also keen to have anyone on cost plus contracts so they determine what profit primary producers make.
Good to know whose side the AHDB are on.
No.

 

[DrWazzock]

Only in farming would it even be considered a good idea to share the data that gives you an edge over your competitors.

I cannot imagine for one moment any of my old engjneering employers agreeing to share any data whatsoever on an industry wide basis.

I don't know what it is with these levy funded bodies but I find them either naive or gullible. Contestantly asking us what we think of them when surely they must speak to us at events and meetings so they have some idea. I'm not sure they really have much purpose to be honest.

 

[matthew]

15 years with the NFU, and then this:

https://www.nfuonline.com/misc/press-centre/press-releases/new-role-for-nfu-director-at-tesco/

Tom Hind moved to Tesco in 2013.

and now he's AHDB ? Musical chairs.

No to data sharing. No. No and No.

 

[7610 super q]

 

[Brisel]

I don't want to see my data being published in the free press & I said so in the survey. Can anyone name another industry where cost of production data is freely shared?

 

[2tractors]

If anyone wants to understand what's brought about this I suggest you read Part 3 of the 2018 Agriculture Bill. Clearly AHDB have spotted an opportunity!

 

[yellowbelly]

Just filled in their survey in the link above.
When I got to the box at the end for 'comments', I added this...

When supermarkets and meat processors start giving us their data regarding their costs of production,sourcing policies, profit margins etc, then and only then, should the AHDB start to think about sharing farmers' data with them. Until such time or when hell freezes over (which is likely to happen first) the AHDB needs to spend our levy money promoting our meat.

I suggest as many of us as possible fill the survey in to let them know where we stand or else it'll get railroaded through.

 

[gone up the hill]

If you are unhappy with the AHBD sharing your figures then I would strongly suggest that you call them tomorrow and ask for your figures to be deleted and tell them you are withdrawing from any benchmarking schemes and the reason why.

AHDB long term aim is for ALL farmers data be that med usage/ feed costs/ diet/ fields the animals graze in etc to be shared with the retailers, first step on this road is the new system being developed for cattle/ sheep movements with the intention that once its up and running the above info like costings/ meds etc will have to be added from 2021/2022 onwards, this will NOT be voluntary apparently.

Should be noted that the NFU FULLY support the above and are pushing it thru ( esp Minette Batters ) .

 

[Raider112]

So is this to see if they go ahead or just to decide on how to roll it out?

 

[gone up the hill]

So is this to see if they go ahead or just to decide on how to roll it out?

They will roll it out you can have no doubt about that.

 

[An Gof]

15 years with the NFU, and then this:

https://www.nfuonline.com/misc/press-centre/press-releases/new-role-for-nfu-director-at-tesco/

Tom Hind moved to Tesco in 2013.

and now he's AHDB ? Musical chairs.

No to data sharing. No. No and No.

I remember his appearance whilst at Tesco at a breakout session the NFU Conference; certainly wasn’t one of his greatest moments.

 

[Brisel]

If anyone wants to understand what's brought about this I suggest you read Part 3 of the 2018 Agriculture Bill. Clearly AHDB have spotted an opportunity!

I can't say I blame them for adapting to the new world post Brexit. With no BPS I can see many levy payers further questioning what value for money they provide.

 

[JulianGairdner]

Dear forum colleague, as the person running this project on behalf of AHDB, can I share a couple of thoughts. The fact that you express concern about sharing farm data etc is exactly the background to the development of the code. In a world awash with data we are all - rightly - concerned about where our data is being held, used, etc. In a farming context there are potentially huge productivity gains from better use of data, but with that also comes a lot of worry and risk about farm data being misused or even used against the farmer who is prepared to share it.

The fact is multiple industries do share data all the time - vehicle manufacturing being a good example, particularly in the area of safety. But what perhaps is different in the ag context is the sector is made up of thousands of small businesses (farmers) and a much smaller number of very large agri-food businesses. For many there is a perception of an imbalance of "power".

In developing a code of practice, we are seeking to create a framework of, if you like, acceptable behaviours and practices that we want those who are using farm data (beyond the farm gate) to sign up to. The survey we have created asks some important questions not only about the importance of data to you and your businesses now and in the future but also about who should control it, and a number of other areas about transparency of its use, and most importantly farmers' rights to opt in and out of Ts and Cs about who can do what with farm data.

The point being that the intention is to create an environment of trust between farmers and those using farm data. What this survey (and development of a code of practice) is categorically NOT is some sort of mechanism to let AHDB or others access your data in some sort of clandestine way. Quite the reverse: it's about ensuring you have a very BIG say in who uses data that has come from your farm, and how.

I really would encourage you to participate in the survey. We developed a similar code in NZ mainly on the back of that country's ag sector recognising the benefits of being much more data driven - but at the same time needing to deal with the same issues of transparency and trust as are being expressed here in the UK.

I hope this helps shed some light on what we are seeking to do here. To be honest, if we end up with a successfully functioning and adopted code (by those using farm data beyond the farm gate) then I think your concerns about use of farm data (should you choose to share it - which is of course your decision) should be greatly alleviated.

There is much media coverage of where data sharing has gone badly wrong in the past couple of years. AHDB's intention here is to show some leadership in this space, hopefully, to minimise the possibility of UK ag tripping itself up and damaging the very obvious competitive advantages our sector could gain from appropriate and trusted use of farm data.

Thanks.

Julian

 

[topground]

@JulianGairdner
I have no confidence in the enforcement of any code that applies to the major players you mention.
There are numerous examples where big business rides roughshod over the codes that are supposed to bind them.
Those responsible for enforcing legislation are too weak or underfunded or both to ensure these businesses obey the law so any concept that they might adhere to any code of practice would be naive to say the least.
The only way to ensure that data is not used to the detriment of farmers is not to share it in the first place with anyone you wouldn't trust with your life, your wife and the contents of your wallet and bank account.

 

[yellowbelly]

Dear @JulianGairdner ,
Welcome to the forum.

Before we get too far down the road with this sharing our data malarky, perhaps you would like to share a bit of data with us - I'm particularly interested to know the killing and processing costs per head of the major plants in the UK (eg ABP, Dawn, Woodhead's, etc How do they all compare with each other?)
Oh, and while you're at it, let us have a few profit margin figures, on a per carcass basis, from ASDA, Tesco, etc and what projected data they have for balancing home produced meat with imported meat in, say, the next 12 months.

Perhaps when you can 'share' that kind of data with us, you might get a better reception about data going the other way.
In the meantime, how about spending a bit more of that big pile of levy money you get each year on promoting meat sales with a bit more advertising?

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Bit sneaky at the start of the survey.
Wanting to know what data you are sharing and who with.

Like any of these things, I just put what I want them to know

 

[ollie989898]

Dear Julian Gairdner. What these people are trying to tell you is this: it's their data, not yours, and they don't want it shared with anyone merely so you can profit from sharing it.

You are entirely right the UK needs to adopt a more NZ orientated farming model, one with the focus being on farmer profitability at a farm level and less monies being siphoned off for statutory reasons.

If the AHDB or any other organisation feels their services are so worthwhile to the industry they should of course offer their services at a cost and by annual subscription and let the market decide their worth and utility.