In the rapidly evolving landscape of agriculture, data is becoming as vital as the soil itself. A recent systematic review published in *Data & Policy* sheds light on the complex web of data ownership in agriculture, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for farmers and the industry at large. Led by Fjolla Berisha from the Department of Computer Science at Maynooth University, Ireland, the study delves into the legal, voluntary, and technical mechanisms governing nonpersonal agricultural data generated by IoT-enabled farm machinery and sensors.
The review, which draws on 63 peer-reviewed studies, reveals a stark reality: while farmers generate vast quantities of nonpersonal data, no existing legal framework explicitly grants them ownership. This ambiguity often leads to de facto data transfers through contracts, limiting farmers’ ability to contest access or downstream use. “Data ownership in agriculture becomes meaningful at the moment of data sharing, where rights claims are made visible, contested, or constrained,” Berisha explains. This finding underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of data governance in agriculture.
The study proposes an integrated conceptual framework comprising legal enforcement, voluntary governance, and technical enforcement mechanisms. However, it also warns that technical mechanisms, while promising automated enforcement and accountability, risk codifying existing power asymmetries if the encoded rules reflect opaque or exclusionary terms.
One of the most thought-provoking aspects of the research is its call for a shift from “ownership” to “data sovereignty.” Berisha and her team argue that data sovereignty, understood as the sustained capacity to define, monitor, and revoke conditions of data use, is crucial for empowering farmers. Achieving this, they suggest, requires three interlinked pillars: enforceable baseline access and use rights for farmers, accessible and preferably open-source technical infrastructure, and participatory governance arrangements.
The commercial impacts of this research are significant. As agriculture becomes increasingly data-driven, the ability to control and leverage data will be a key competitive advantage. Farmers who can assert their data sovereignty will be better positioned to negotiate fair contracts, access valuable insights, and drive innovation on their farms. Meanwhile, agribusinesses that adopt transparent and participatory governance models may find themselves at the forefront of a new era of collaboration and trust.
Looking ahead, this research could shape future developments in several ways. It may spur the creation of new legal frameworks that explicitly grant farmers ownership or sovereignty over their data. It could also drive the development of open-source technical infrastructure that empowers farmers to control their data. Moreover, it may foster a shift in industry norms towards more participatory governance models.
In the words of Berisha, “We need to move beyond the binary of ownership and access. The future of agriculture lies in data sovereignty, where farmers have the power to define, monitor, and revoke the use of their data.” As the agriculture sector continues to evolve, this research serves as a timely reminder of the importance of data governance and the need for a more equitable and transparent approach to data ownership.