AHDB pilots Farm Data Exchange for beef and dairy sector

The AHDB has launched a proof of concept pilot with farm businesses to explore opportunities for data sharing and address challenges around data ownership.

The Farm Data Exchange, previously branded as the Farm Data Custodian, aims to allow farm businesses to share information with relevant industry stakeholders while still retaining control of their data.

See also: Farm data revolution relies on greater collaboration

Adam Short, associate director for data programmes at AHDB, said farmers were often being asked to provide duplications of on-farm data, and it was working with industry partners to create an exchange process.

He said: “We don’t hold the data; we leave the data where it is and let the farmers control how it is shared.”

The AHDB is running a pilot project across 18 farms focusing on the challenge of environmental reporting in the beef and dairy sectors, which is due to be completed in February.

Mr Short said: “We’re working with the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS), the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), with feed companies and with carbon calculators.

“If we get enough buy-in and signals from the industry and levy payers that this is what they want AHDB to be doing, I would hope to get the ball rolling from June this year.”

Benefits of data sharing

Mr Short outlined several potential benefits of data sharing for farm businesses, including access to preferential loan and insurance rates for being able to evidence certain environmental requirements.

He also suggested there could be industry-wide advantages, helping to secure market access for meat exports.

Mr Short said meat products from several other major exporting countries such as New Zealand already come with environmental data credentials, which are looked upon favourably by retailers.

Work to share veterinary data is also being discussed as a future proposition for the Shared Data Exchange.

Data concerns

At the Oxford Farming Conference on 9 January, AHDB farming systems director Mike Gooding conceded that some farmers still had reservations around sharing data, with concerns over ownership and control.

But he suggested there would only be more demands from industry for data in future.

Joe Prosho, head of sustainable sourcing and agriculture at supermarket ASDA, said: “We all have these challenges around reporting data.

“We’ve got obligations to government, to NGOs, to banks, and that’s some of the reasons the request for data come down.”

He added: “Sharing data can help us understand the cycle, nature and the impact the role of things like carbon stocks and land management can have in practice, which can actually help us change the narrative and provide a more positive story about the role of agriculture.”

Pilot scheme

The project’s ongoing pilot scheme assesses the viability of a decentralised data model for sharing farming activity data within the beef and dairy sectors..

It focuses on pulling together the information required to complete a carbon calculation, using existing on-farm data.

Dorset-based organic dairy farmer, Sophie Gregory, is involved in the pilot and says data is vital to her business, but it becomes frustrating when the same data has to be inputted and duplicated several times by the farm business for various compliance reasons.

“I think having it all in one place is something that we need to look at.”

“I’m hoping longer term, [the Farm Data Exchange] will get rid of some of that duplication, so I’m not having to go through invoices looking for certain things. Things will be on there, ready to go, and I can use it for compliance.”