5. Network session

At our network meeting, lawyer Dr Paul Vogel (Noerr Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB) gave a well-founded overview of current developments in the area of ‘Data protection and data sovereignty in agriculture - legal situation and current developments’.

The focus was on the central role of data as the basis for automation, new business models and increased efficiency - and at the same time as a source of dependency and power imbalances. Particularly problematic: farmers currently have no legal claim to ‘ownership’ of the data they generate. Neither property law, copyright law nor data protection law offer suitable protection. Contractual solutions are often unsatisfactory, as there is a power imbalance between the players. The new EU Data Act, which will apply from September 2025 and grant users the right to access certain data, offers hope. The recommendation to farmers is to pay attention to data sovereignty when purchasing digital products and services, clarify data export options and regularly back up their own data.