Certification is being managed on our behalf by Communagator Ltd ("Operator"). Your legal relationship is with Farm Data Principles Ltd. The details for certification (the scheme rules) are described below and are also available as a download here.

1. Please complete this form to register your organisation's interest in becoming certified.
   
   

2. Upon our receipt of your registration of interest, we will send you a Welcome Pack.
   
   

3. Certification is by self declaration:

   1. We ask you to complete a Data Handler Statement (“Statement”) which you should download as a Word document from here. This Statement is a set of questions you need to answer along with any links to appropriate evidence to prove you are aligned with the principles. Examples of others’ statements are available on the certified organisations register page. We have also created a Guidance Note to help you complete your Statement.  And added a useful Ts & Cs guidance resource to help you construct/adapt your own user Ts and Cs so that they are consistent with Farm Data Principles certification.

   2. Once you have drafted your Statement, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO:
      
      farm-data-principles@communagator.com
      
      

   3. The Operator will then review the document. This NOT AN AUDIT but is intended to ensure your Statement is intelligible and to check there are not any obvious errors that conflict with the principles or expectations of the questions. The Operator may ask you to make changes so this is achieved.
      
      

   4. Where you are not able to answer a question with “yes” there are two options:

      1. You can confirm in your Statement that you will undertake to make any corrective actions in your organisation in the following 12 months - in which case if your certification is approved, your status will be “Provisionally Certified” (you must ensure these corrective actions are completed in time for your certification anniversary or you will not be able to continue to be certified).

      2. Where you are unable to confirm you will undertake the corrective actions within 12 months, you will NOT BE ABLE TO BE CERTIFIED and your application should be stopped at this point.
         
         

   5. The annual certification fee of £950.00 is only applicable if you achieve Provisional of Full certification status and it is the same charge for either.
      
      

   6. We believe in a collaborative approach, and the Operator has been authorised by us to provide you with reasonable assistance and support to help you through the process so you can understand what is required and what you need to do. At no point should you consider any assistance of this nature as being advice, and since the Operator is acting on our behalf, you should not consider that it has any duty of care towards you or your organisation. This is made clear in the certification licence agreement.
      
      

   7. Once your Statement is approved, the Operator will:

      1. Confirm this in an email and send you the licence agreement for your electronic signature.

      2. Send you the annual certification fee invoice.
         
         

   8. Upon returning your signed certification licence agreement to us:

      1. You must pay the fee within 20 days of invoice date.

      2. The Operator will publish your Statement on this website and add you to the register of certified organisations. 

      3. The Operator will send you a calendar invitation which will act as a reminder for renewal, dated six weeks before you renewal anniversary.

      4. The Operator will send you your certificate and logo artwork which you may use in line with the certification licence agreement

This document sets out the rules of the Farm Data Principles certification scheme (“Scheme”).

The Scheme is owned and overseen by Farm Data Principles Ltd (“FDP”) and is operated by Communagator Ltd (“Operator”) on FDP’s behalf.

The rules may be updated from time to time and the latest version will appear on the Farm Data Principles website.

The rules should be read and interpreted in conjunction with:

• Data Handler’s Statement

• Complaints and Disputes Procedure

• Certification Licence Agreement

THE RULES:

1. Organisations wishing to become certified must demonstrate their alignment to the Farm Data Principles principles (“Principles”). These are set out below:

   1. Your Data Is Your Data 

      1. 1. The Data Originator, normally the farmer, owns and controls the data.

         2. The Data Originator can access, edit, delete, and migrate data easily.

         3. Data is not accessed or stored without explicit opt-in permission.

         4. Data is not shared or sold without explicit opt-in permission.

         5. The identity of the parties involved in processing the data is established and recorded. 

   2. Our Organisation Makes data Easy

      1. 1. Simple naming conventions are adopted and common across the organisation’s tools.

         2. Organisations allow systems to share data where appropriate, using best practice and conventions.

         3. There is a proactive approach to providing training on data and data use, appropriate to the Certified Organisation's data users.

         4. The Certified Organisation is accessible and responsive to requests, instructions, or complaints.

   3. Our Organisation Keep Your Data Safe

      1. 1. Appropriate data security standards for an organisation’s activities are adopted, and there is a clear explanation of why such standards are appropriate. 

         2. There are processes in place to maintain security of users’ data in the unlikely event of a data breach.

   4. Our Organisation Is Clear About The Value And Benefit Of Data Sharing

      1. 1. From the outset the raw data being used is listed and explanation is provided as to how it is used. 

         2. The value generated by the data sharing is explained and who benefits. 

         3. We clearly explain how we aggregate data, and what value it generates, and to whom.
            
            

2. A self-declared Data Handler’s Statement (“Statement”) is what demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to the Principles.
   
   

3. The process for certification is:

   1. An organisation (“Applicant”) applies to become certified.

   2. The Applicant receives a welcome pack containing links to:

      1. Statement template to complete

      2. Complaints and Disputes Procedure

      3. Certification Licence Agreement (“Licence”)

   3. The Applicant completes the Statement and submits it to the Operator.

   4. The Operator reviews the Statement and checks it for completeness and intelligibility. This includes checking the Applicant has provided sufficient evidence in support of its yes/no answers.

   5. The Operator marks each answer on the Statement as Pass, Pending or Fail on the following basis:

      1. Pass - the Applicant has answered yes to the question AND provided coherent evidence in support of its answer.

      2. Pending - the Applicant has answered no to a question BUT has confirmed in its supporting evidence that it will undertake any necessary measures within 12 months of achieving certification to enable it to answer yes at the point of its annual recertification.

      3. Fail - where the Applicant has been unable to answer yes to a question AND has been unable to provide the necessary assurances in e(2) above. Applicants cannot become certified if any question is marked Fail.

   6. In the event the Statement is not completed to the satisfaction of the Operator, the Operator will return the Statement to the Applicant explaining what needs to be completed or addressed. The Applicant attends to these matters and resubmits its Statement when ready.

   7. In the event of a dispute, the Complaints and Disputes Procedure will be followed.

   8. Upon satisfactory completion of the Statement, the Operator confirms to the Applicant whether it will be awarded Provisional of Full certified status, on the following basis:

      1. Provisional - where the organisation has not been able to answer yes to all the questions on its Statement but has undertaken to rectify any issues within 12 months so it is able to answer yes (with the appropriate evidence) not later than the first anniversary of its certification.

      2. Full - where the applicant organisation has been able to answer yes to all the questions and provide appropriate supporting evidence.

   9. At the point the Operator confirms that certified status will be awarded, the Applicant will:

      1. Accept and sign the Licence

      2. Pay the Certification Fee.

   10. Once the Operator receives the signed Licence and Certification Fee, it will:

       1. Publish the Applicant’s Statement on the Farm Data Principles website

       2. Add the Applicant’s name to the register of certified organisations on the Farm Data Principles website, confirming its certified status

       3. Send the Applicant:

          1. A certificate confirming its certified status and the 12-month term of that status

          2. Digital copies of the Scheme logo (demonstrating the Organisation’s certified status) and guidance on how it may be used.

   11. The Operator has not been asked, and is not expected, to audit or verify the accuracy or honesty of any statements made in the Statement (other than pointing out any obvious errors). FDP believes that putting the Statement in the public domain through its publication on the Farm Data Principles website is sufficient to hold an organisation to account.

   12. The Operator is authorised by FDP to invoice the Applicant for the annual Certification Fee, to receive the fee on behalf of FDP and to handle renewals, reminders and enquiries.

   13. The Certification Fee amount(s) shall be published and updated from time to time on the Farm Data Principles website.

   14. Before the 12-month term of certification is complete, the Operator will send a reminder to the Applicant confirming that it must resubmit a Statement to be considered for recertification. The Operator shall review the Statement once completed in line with the procedure outlined above.

   15. Where an Applicant:

       1. Has previously attained Provisional certified status in the first year, it shall not achieve recertification unless it is able to be conferred Full certified status thereafter

       2. Has already attained Full certified status it cannot be recertified with Provisional status

   16. If during its term of certified status a matter is brought to the attention of FDP that might challenge or impact the certified status of the Applicant, then the Complaints and Disputes Procedure will be followed, the outcome of which the Applicant must accept (in line with the terms of the Licence).

   17. In the event the outcome of the Complaints and Disputes Procedure is the Applicant’s removal or withdrawal from the Scheme then neither FDP nor the Operator shall publish or make any comment or statement about the Applicant’s removal or withdrawal from the Scheme unless legally required to do so or reasonably required to uphold the reputation of FDP or the Scheme. The Applicant’s name and published Statement will be removed from the Farm Data Principles certification register.

   18. The Applicant may reapply for certified status on the basis it has:

       1. Not be notified of its permanent exclusion from the Scheme

       2. Addressed any issues arising from the Complaints and Disputes procedure

       3. Met the requirements of Full certified status upon reapplying.

It is important to us that we operate a fair and transparent certification scheme. In the unlikely event that a complaint or dispute arises (lodged either by a certified or certifying organisation, or a third party) then we will follow the Complaints & Disputes procedure outlined below and also available as a download here.

Certification Scheme Complaints and Disputes Procedure

Farm Data Principles Ltd (“FDP”) owns and oversees the certification scheme to support the safe and responsible use and sharing of farmers’ data in the UK. The Scheme is managed and operated on FDP’s behalf by Communagator Ltd (“the Operator”).

This document sets out the procedure for registering a complaint or dispute with FDP and explains how any complaint or dispute will be handled. The procedure may be updated from time to time and the latest version will appear on the Farm Data Principles website.

Given the nature of the certification process and that the overarching principle is one of public scrutiny of an applicant organisation’s Data Handler’s Statement, it is hoped there will be few occasions for invoking these procedures. However, where complaints or disputes do arise they will be handled by FDP’s Complaints and Disputes Committee (“CDC”).

This document should be read and interpreted in conjunction with:

• Data Handler’s Statement

• Certification Scheme Rules

• Certification Licence Agreement.

The procedure to be followed is as set out below.

1. Members of the CDC will be appointed by the directors of FDP in consultation with FDP’s members and the company rules.

2. The complainant (which could be a third party or an applicant/certified organisation) must lodge its complaint with the Operator in writing by email within two weeks of the matter in dispute arising.

3. The Operator will acknowledge receipt within two working days and notify the CDC (including a suggested remedy where it feels able to do so). The following will then occur:

   1. CDC will consider the matter.

   2. CDC will provide the Operator with appropriate direction so that the parties to the complaint can be contacted with a confirmed decision within four weeks (unless circumstances legitimately make this impossible, in which case as soon as possible thereafter).

   3. Any party to the complaint will then have an opportunity for one appeal against any decision of the CDC which must be lodged within two weeks of the CDC’s decision, and the CDC shall consider this representation and confirm any subsequent decision within two weeks of receipt of that appeal.

   4. Thereafter, if the appealing party is not satisfied, a mutually agreed arbitrator will be appointed (at the appealing party’s cost) to resolve the matter.

   5. In the event the CDC’s decision is to withdraw an organisation’s Certified Status, then the applicant organisation will be removed from the Scheme in line with the Certification Licence Agreement and the Certification Scheme Rules.

   6. Neither FDP nor the CDC will be liable for any costs or losses (direct or indirect) suffered by any party that results from any decision the CDC makes in the context of this Complaints and Disputes Procedure.

4. For the purposes of this Complaints and Disputes Procedure (and any associated correspondence or rulings) AND the operation and interpretation of the Certification Scheme Rules, the definitions detailed in Appendix 1 apply, together with those included in the Certification Licence Agreement.

APPENDIX 1

DEFINITIONS

1. Aggregated Data - data which has been combined from a number of sources usually with the intention of adding value or creating insights

2. Anonymised Data - data which has been edited so as to remove any personally identifiable information

3. Artificial Intelligence - refers to systems or models that use complex algorithms to interpret and learn from vast and diverse farm datasets. These systems are designed to:

   • Operate at immense scale and speed.

   • Identify subtle, non-obvious patterns (e.g. the earliest indicators of crop stress or disease).

   • Forecast future outcomes (e.g. predicting crop yields or equipment failure).

   • Generate new, actionable insights and inference (including the generation of new data) that enable smarter, more efficient, or autonomous decisions to be made throughout the agrifood chain.

4. Certification Licence Agreement - the legal contract between FDP and a certified organisation setting out the terms and conditions under which certified status is conferred covering, inter alia, liability, the use of the logo, fees, and the complaints procedure

5. Complaints and Disputes Committee - A sub-committee comprising no fewer than three members of FDP and that adjudicates over complaints or matters in dispute

6. Data Breach - a security violation, in which data is copied, transmitted, viewed, altered or used by a party unauthorised to do so

7. Data Handler - the organisation wishing to gain access to a Data Originator’s data and/or the provider of digital solutions that store a Data Originator’s data. For example, a software provider; a retailer, food processor or other actor in the supply chain; a consultancy using farm data for benchmarking

8. Data Migration - the process of moving data from one storage system to another

9. Data Originator - the business or enterprise to which the data relates and which has (more often than not) been captured by a Data Handler. Most commonly (but not exclusively) this would be a farm(er)

10. Data Processing - the collection and translation of data, usually into a form of usable information

11. Farm Data - includes data relating to, or collected from, the business of a farmer, farm operation or its outputs including cropping and soils, livestock, land use and environment, telematics, IoT, farm management, climate and weather

12. Full Certification - The status conferred on an organisation where every question in its Data Handler’s Statement has been marked “Yes” by the Operator

13. Personal Data - information relating to an identifiable person or individual (known as a “data subject” in UK law)

14. Provisional Certification - the status conferred on an organisation which has one or more questions on its Data Handler’s Statement that are marked “Pending” by the Operator and which will be rectified within 12 months

15. Raw Data - original data which has not gone through any editing, aggregation, anonymisation or other form of transformation

16. Security Standards - measures (formal or informal) that would be generally recognised by the information technology industry as appropriate for the secure storage, processing and transmission of data