Agriculture technology providers' perspectives of data rights and obligations in agriculture reflected by farm data value chain

This research paper delves deeply into the landscape of data rights in agriculture, investigating perspectives held by Agriculture Technology Providers (ATPs). The study examines the influences surrounding data ownership and control, presenting a spectrum of ATPs’ views, from advocating for open-source data to asserting ownership rights. Through an examination of various business structures (Internal/insourcing, Collaborative, and Outsourcing) and their implications for data rights and obligations, the paper uncovers the complexities in designing fair data rights agreements between farmers and ATPs, and among ATPs. Additionally, mechanisms for quantifying benefits, safeguarding rights, and auditing activities are proposed to foster a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership between the two parties. The research also investigates the influence of company size on data rights, noting that smaller companies, despite their flexibility, often lack awareness of data rights issues compared to larger counterparts. With these findings, the paper advocates for clearer legislation, active participation of farmers in contract negotiations, and the establishment of markets for digital commodities like data and data-derived products (e.g., carbon credits) to effectively navigate the domain of data rights in agriculture.