Do pig farmers know which parties can view their data and what they do with it? How many signatures are on an authorization form, and where they are? Do people trust that sensitive business information is transmitted securely? There is much room for improvement in this area. This is the conclusion of POV together with JoinData on the basis of a survey among almost 100 pig farmers.
Almost 98 percent of the authorizations are managed by the pig farmers themselves. Almost all respondents are aware that information is shared on feed, slaughter, finances, animal health, IKB and stall and climate equipment. But with whom exactly? Almost 40 percent of the pig farmers surveyed have no insight into their authorizations. It is not always known to which parties they have authorized the use of their data over the years and whether their data is shared securely.
The online survey was jointly conducted by POV and JoinData in June. POV joined JoinData a year ago, where POV strives to substantially improve the data position of Dutch pig farmers in the chain. JoinData is a cooperative that gives farmers control over their data streams and allows data to be shared securely. JoinData ensures that suppliers of farmers are connected to the platform.
More control
By using JoinData, pig farmers can get more control over their data. They have often issued authorizations for the use of data to suppliers, customers and consultants. This improves performance in the chain, but paying extra attention to the easy and safe sharing of data is becoming increasingly important. In the survey, 60 percent of pig farmers indicated that they do not know exactly which data a party is authorized to share and how often and for how long they share data with other parties.
Added value of data sharing
The importance of data sharing is increasing. More than 50 percent of pig farmers want to get more out of their data, but a large percentage don’t know how to start if they want to work with their own data. Pig farmers who are now extracting valuable information from their data mainly look at cost/financial data, feed use, slaughter results and the technical figures. In order to help pig farmers with this issue, POV is going to set up a ‘Stable Data’ cluster. About ten pig farmers have joined this cluster to actively work on the questions that arise within the theme of data sharing. The content of the cluster will take shape in the coming period. POV members with ideas about Stable Data are welcome to contact Annet van den Akker, producer and market policy officer.
Online platform
The aim of the study is to identify how pig farmers can be better supported in order to increase their control and ease of use regarding authorizations. Almost half of the pig farmers indicate that they lack insight. JoinData offers the solution to sharing data in a safe and easy way, putting pig farmers in control of their data streams. On the online platform ‘My JoinData’, pig farmers can easily view and manage the authorizations for the sharing of their data. They can activate or withdraw any authorization at any time and set the purpose for which and the length of time their data is shared.
Sener Celik, director of JoinData, is pleased with the results of the study. “This shows the need for secure and easy data sharing. JoinData has been founded for this purpose and all pig farmers can use it TODAY. Our mission is for pig farmers to be and remain in charge of their own data.” To make this possible, JoinData ensures safe data transport according to all applicable legal rules, including those concerning privacy. “You can compare our service to a safe highway. As soon as pig farmers issue an authorization, their data is transported in a locked truck over this safe highway to the party who is allowed to use the data,” says Celik.
