As part of the Research Data Alliance's (RDA)/ Agricultural Data Interest Group's (IGAD) ongoing webinar series, aimed to keep up with cutting edge developments in agricultural data, and encourage the free flow of ideas, the latest webinar took place on 20 May 2020.

The webinar focused on “Developing Best Practice Principles for Agricultural Data Management” and featured Leanne Wiseman a Professor in Intellectual Property Law at Griffith University, Brisbane Australia and Associate Director of Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture (ACIPA).

Agricultural data must be managed like any other asset. This requires strategy and best management practice. Importantly there needs to be a clear direction and sense of what needs to be achieved through the collection, use and sharing of agricultural data. The aim of an Agricultural Data Strategy is to guide the creation of an enabling environment where farmers and agricultural industries are able to produce and share high quality data outputs.  Importantly, too, an agricultural data strategy will bring more than just economic benefits to the agricultural sector, a digital and data strategy will also bring improved environmental outcomes including land management and water use. The benefits will also extend beyond the farm, with some of the biggest gains in value likely to be generated along the supply chain, from the farm to consumer. In addition to developing an agricultural Data Strategy, creating an enabling environment to facilitate agricultural innovations will help manage data as an asset and ensure best practice for Agricultural Data. Establishing agricultural data rules is a crucial first step in ensuring  best practice in the collection, use and sharing of agricultural data while ensuring farmers’ legal, ethical and security concerns are addressed.