Refining Data Governance in AgTech: DAC's Journey Toward Informed Consent and Ethical Data Sharing

Access meeting documents:

• Workshop report
• Yielder presentation
• Call for partner use cases
  

During the workshop, it became evident that it is crucial to clearly define the scope of DAC activities, as data governance is a broad, interconnected topic. To be effective, DAC activities should concentrate on the specific relationship between informed consent and its role in farmer-centric business models and service delivery, particularly in the context of data sharing.

The DAC Yielder pilot conducted at the end of 2023 highlighted the significant impact of training on farmers' willingness to share data. During the pilot training, 70% received a 30-minute training on the relevance of the consent form, and 30% did not. A follow-up phone survey of 600 farmers revealed that 95% of trained farmers gave consent for data use, compared to 65% of untrained farmers. The study highlighted the significant influence of trainers in building trust, as most farmers followed trainer instructions. Suggestions for improvement include making the training less abstract, reducing its duration, and simplifying consent forms. Further information on the Yielder pilot can be found in this presentation.

The next steps include a panel discussion on data governance, set for September 5th, exploring new regulations and their implications for managing African farmer data. We are also scoping a practical data-sharing pilot with DAC members to further our work on informed consent. For more information, see attached the workshop report and call for partner use cases.