Definition of Data

"The Code defines and covers three distinct categories of data (more precisely defined in the Definitions at the end of this Code): • Public Data – data from any source which relates to a farmer or their business, excluding Farm Data and Private Data; • Farm Data – data which originates from a farmer, or a service provider in the course of providing a service to a farmer (including aggregated or transformed data); and, • Private Data – data which could be used (whether on its own or through combination with other information), to identify an individual farmer or farm business."

Main Focus of Document

This Farm Data Code (the Code) was developed and adopted by the National Farmers’ Federation in consultation with industry. The objective of this Code is to promote digital adoption in the farm sector, by ensuring farmers have confidence in how their data is collected, used and shared. The Code is intended to inform the policies of service providers who manage data on behalf of farmers. It is also a yardstick by which farmers can evaluate the policies of those providers.

Target Beneficiaries or Sector

Farmers, service providers

Key Elements

The purpose of this Code is to facilitate innovation in agriculture by ensuring farmers have confidence in how their data is collected, used and shared.

 The Code does this by establishing leading principles for the collection and use of farm data. Specifically, the Code aims to: 
a. raise awareness around the collection, use and sharing of farm data; 
b. improve transparency, clarity and honesty in the way farm data is collected, used and shared; 
c. encourage the fair and equitable collection, use and sharing of farm data in a way that benefits farmers and Australian agriculture; 
d. build trust and confidence in the way farm data is collected, used and shared so that, where appropriate, farm data can be utilised in ways that bring benefits to Australian agriculture; and 
e. allow flexible implementation, so that providers can establish appropriate practices around farm data collection, use and sharing.

Policy/Regulation Mirrors

n/a