Digital governance in agriculture: Balancing data protection and access to boost innovation and generate trust

While digitalisation is already enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability, knowledge on digital governance systems remains fragmented across countries. This paper addresses this gap, setting out a framework and analysing questionnaire responses to facilitate international comparison and the sharing of good practices. Data governance across countries operates along a spectrum from more public-led to more market-led approaches, with most combining public rules, private contracts and voluntary mechanisms. Key challenges include uncertainty over data rights, limited transparency, vendor lock-in, uneven interoperability and portability, and lack of trust among data users and providers. Digital adoption is also constrained by broader barriers, including costs, skills, connectivity and differences in farm structure. The paper highlights the diversity of digital governance models. Effective systems need to balance data protection and access, promote broader digital and innovation enablers, build trust, support contestable digital service markets, and strengthen interoperability and portability.