Join us for a Webinar exploring the importance of and challenges specific to research and data in agriculture.

Thursday 20 March 2025 at 11h00-12h30 UTC

Ethical challenges in data and research within the agricultural sector are of growing importance as the industry integrates increasingly advanced technologies and data-driven methodologies. 

Accurate data is crucial for governance and governing bodies, allowing for evidence-based decision-making and ensuring policies are well-informed, targeted to the right issues, and have a higher chance of achieving positive outcomes. Inaccurate data can lead to ineffective policies, wasted resources, and potentially harmful consequences. Nowhere is this more true than in farming and agriculture.

Farmers and agricultural workers are, understandably, concerned about data being collected, stored, and shared without their knowledge or consent. Especially when this data could be used to influence market prices, borrowing or insurance rates. Ethical frameworks must be established to ensure that all participants are adequately informed about how their data will be used and processed. Failing to do so can result in inaccurate or biased data.

Farming and food production are intrinsically linked to many of the Grand Challenges: global issues that will require significant innovation and collaboration to solve. The more accurate information and knowledge we have, the better placed we will be to make beneficial decisions. Farming and the environment, for example, are interdependent; with potential risks of poor decision-making including air and water pollution, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity. It is essential for researchers to collaboratively engage with environmental scientists, policy makers and local communities to ensure that agricultural practices promote sustainability.

Equitable access to technology and research outcomes is another challenge facing the agricultural sector. Often, smallholder farmers and marginalised communities are excluded from the benefits of technological advancements due to a lack of resources or access. Ensuring that research findings are accessible to all stakeholders and that data-driven innovations do not widen existing inequalities is imperative.

This panel brings together a diverse group of experts in agricultural data, research and policy-making to discuss pressing issues, including the environment, new technologies, confidentiality, transparency, equitable access and more.

How can policymakers and farming and research communities foster trust and work together to the betterment of the planet while protecting individual rights and addressing the needs of all stakeholders equally?

By addressing these ethical challenges, the agricultural sector can contribute to sustainable development while ensuring that the rights and interests of all stakeholders are respected and upheld. This approach would not only enhance the integrity of research but also foster trust among communities, researchers, and policymakers.

Panellists

Professor Evelyn Chiyevo Garwe, Associate Dean at the Mahommed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco, is an expert in education, quality assurance, and strategic planning, and agriculture with 30 years of experience and over 100 publications. Her transdisciplinary background and leadership in development cooperation initiatives across Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific inform her work in building resilient education systems through responsible research and innovation.

Evelyn previously served as the Deputy CEO of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) and her experience includes roles as Dean of Agricultural Sciences at Chinhoyi University of Technology and the Women’s University in Africa. 

Prof. Garwe is a fellow of the Pan African Institute of Development, a member of several professional societies, and has held leadership roles, including Chairperson of the Agricultural Research Council of Zimbabwe.

Dr. Jane Ezirigwe is an Associate Professor of Law at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the Gordon F. Henderson Fellow at the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa.

With 19 years of experience in law practice, legal research, advocacy, education, and knowledge mobilization, Professor Ezirigwe has worked across five continents. Her research focuses on sustainable partnerships between humans, technology, and the environment, with specific interests in food and agricultural law, the governance of big data and AI, and social justice. Two of her publications are recognized as recommended reading in select law schools.

In her work, Jane examines issues at the intersection of feminism, race, and sustainability governance. She has authored over 40 scholarly articles in various publications, including Law, Technology and Humans, the Journal of African Law, Law and Development Review, and The Conversation, among others.

Dr. Amos T. Kabo-Bah is a distinguished expert in climate change, energy, and
hydrology. With a Ph.D. from Hohai University, China, he has built an impressive career in research, teaching, and consulting. His experience includes a postdoctoral position at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and his current role as Dean for International Relations at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana.

Dr. Kabo-Bah’s global influence is evident in his positions as Co-Chair for the Group on Earth Observation Programme Board, the GEO Land Degradation Neutrality Flagship, and Scientific Committee member of the GEO AquaWatch Initiative. His research focuses on climate change, hydrology, water resources management, and sustainable development. A prolific author and presenter, Dr. Kabo-Bah has made significant contributions to scientific literature in these fields.

Dr. Alan Moss is a Science & Technology Policy Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In his current role, Dr. Moss leads initiatives to develop and promote open science policies, ensuring that the extensive research conducted and supported by the USDA is publicly accessible. Previously, Dr. Moss served as a Science Diplomacy Fellow with the National Science Policy Network and the Netherlands Innovation Network, where he facilitated collaborations among diverse stakeholders in the clean energy sector. He also gained legislative experience as a Policy Fellow with the MOST Policy Initiative in Missouri, providing scientific briefings to state legislators. Dr. Moss earned his Ph.D. in Biology from Saint Louis University, where his research focused on understanding the drivers of bumblebee diversity and the impacts of climate change in the Himalayas.

Adewale Obadina is a Professor of Food Safety and Biotechnology at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, and currently serves as Project Officer at the Association of African Universities. He has published over eighty works and is a recognized expert in food safety microbiology and chemistry. His leadership roles include serving on boards including International Union of Food Science and Technology and African Continental Association of Food Protection, and he has taught at various international institutions. Prof. Obadina has consulted for organisations such as UNIDO and USAID, and from 2015-2020, was rated the 2nd best author in Food Science for scholarly output in Nigeria.

Moderator: Kathryn Bailey, Professor of Research Governance Partnerships at the University of Exeter and Operations Director of the Ethical Data Initiative.