This blog post is based on the 12th Practice Abstract from the second batch of Farmtopia Practice Abstracts.
Digital technologies are becoming an increasingly important part of modern farming. Connected machinery, sensors, farm management platforms, artificial intelligence and digital advisory services can help farmers improve productivity, use resources more efficiently and make better-informed decisions.
But adopting a digital solution also means navigating questions about data, contracts, software, equipment and responsibility. For many farmers, particularly those running small and medium-sized farms, unclear contractual conditions, limited transparency around data use, poor interoperability and vendor lock-in can make digitalisation more difficult and reduce trust in new technologies.
A Code of Conduct designed with farmers in mind
To address these challenges, Farmtopia developed a farmer-centred Technology Code of Conduct.
The Code was developed through an analysis of existing European legislation and international initiatives, combined with input gathered through workshops organised across Farmtopia’s Sustainable Innovation Pilots (SIPs). Farmers, advisors, technology providers and policymakers contributed their perspectives, helping to identify the practical concerns that farmers face when using digital technologies.
The proposed Code was then further refined through stakeholder consultations.
While existing initiatives often focus mainly on agricultural data sharing, the Farmtopia Code takes a broader approach. It considers the full digital farming environment, covering data, software and hardware.
What does the Code address?
The Technology Code of Conduct brings together principles designed to support fairer and more transparent use of digital technologies in agriculture.
These include:
– Transparency about data collection and use
– Interoperability between different platforms, systems and machinery
– Data portability, allowing farmers to transfer their data between providers
– Cybersecurity and privacy
Fair contractual terms
– The right to repair and maintain equipment
– Clearer liability in cases of system failures or misuse
– Benefit-sharing when agricultural data is shared or reused
Together, these principles aim to give farmers greater clarity about the technologies they adopt and greater control over the data and equipment connected to their farms.
Questions to ask before adopting a digital tool
For farmers, understanding the terms behind a digital solution can be just as important as understanding what the technology itself can do.
Before adopting a digital tool or signing a contract, farmers should consider questions such as:
– What data will be collected and why?
– Who can access or reuse my data?
– Can my data be used commercially?
– Can I download and transfer my data if I change provider?
– Are all costs, subscriptions and software features clearly explained?
– Does the system work with other platforms or machinery?
– Can I repair or maintain the equipment independently?
– Who is responsible if there is a system failure, data breach or misuse?
– What benefit will I gain from sharing my data?
These questions can help farmers compare digital solutions and identify whether a product offers the transparency, flexibility and protections they need.
Greater control for farmers
A key aim of the Technology Code of Conduct is to help farmers make informed choices and avoid becoming unnecessarily dependent on a single technology provider. Transparent data practices can make it easier to understand who has access to farm-generated information and how it can be used. Interoperability and data portability can reduce vendor lock-in, while clearer information about costs, software licences and equipment maintenance can help farmers understand the longer-term implications of their investment.
Ultimately, the proposed Code seeks to make digital farming more transparent, fair and farmer-centred. For farmers, this means greater control over their data, clearer choices when selecting technologies and stronger protections when using digital tools on their farms.
Based on Farmtopia Practice Abstract 12
This blog post was created from Practice Abstract 12: “A new Code of Conduct for Technology Use and Data Governance in Agriculture”, part of the second batch of Farmtopia Practice Abstracts.
Publisher: GreenSupplyChain DIH
Authors: Christopher Brewster, Alexandra Aslanidou
More information and the complete Farmtopia Technology Code of Conduct are available through the relevant Farmtopia project deliverables.