Environmental data storage: A solution you can trust

As demand on farmers to supply environmental data grows, so does the importance of having a data storage system that works for everyone. Graham Wilkinson, CEO at AHDB, discusses possible solutions put forward in our recent report to make farm-level data capture and processing more efficient.

Environmental data is becoming increasingly important to businesses, supply chains and governments due to regulatory and voluntary reporting requirements.

This in turn means there is and will be a growing demand for farmers to supply data to many different organisations in order to demonstrate what is happening to the environment on their farm.

These data requests are currently uncoordinated and fragmented, putting farmers at risk of duplication and contradiction and even losing ownership.

Our levy payers have expressed their frustrations to us regarding the complexity of the current environmental data landscape, calling for a more efficient approach, and we have listened.

A 'one-stop shop'

We have created a new report that highlights the potential benefits of developing a new ecosystem to connect farm-level environmental data.

The Solutions for Farm-Level Environmental Data report proposes a system whereby data is captured once and used multiple times, streamlining processes across the board.

This approach would involve an independent storage base that acts as a 'one-stop shop', ensuring that the flow and distribution of farm data are consistent, efficient and secure for all users.

A successful environmental data ecosystem must be easy to use and, above all, trusted by farmers.

It is our goal that levy payers will retain control of their data and, when they choose to, are able to easily share it with the supply chain.

The system should support the ability of farmers to capture value from their data from current and future arrangements, including natural capital markets and government support arrangements.

Have your say

AHDB’s role as an independent, evidence-based body allows us to create this space on behalf of the industry and ensure we are doing all we can to support our levy payers through every step of this journey.

To build such a system requires industry collaboration and government support. On behalf of our levy payers, we are working with farming unions, other levy boards and the wider supply chain to explore solutions.

As part of this process, we will be engaging with stakeholders across the agri-food supply chain, from farmers, processors, millers, feed companies, etc., to retailers and governments.

It is vital to us that a solution is not imposed on farmers or the rest of the supply chain without consultation, and we would welcome contact from any organisation or individual with an interest in this area.

If you would like to contribute to our thinking or feel we have missed something, we would welcome your input. To have your say, contact us at environmental.data@ahdb.org.uk.