Step 3 in ADT Certification - Submit Contract, Answer 11 Questions

The third step in the ADT certification pipeline includes the potential member submitting the contracts they ask farmers to sign for review, along with answering 11 questions about how they collect, store, use, and share farmers' ag data. 

The contracts and answers to the 11 questions are then reviewed by a third-party legal administrator for accuracy. If the answers match what the company's contracts say, the Ag Data Transparent seal is awarded. If there is a discrepancy, the ADT Administrator provides feedback so the company can make appropriate changes in order for the ADT seal to be awarded.

“The back and forth nature of this process really improves ag data contracts,” says Todd Janzen, ADT Administrator. “This is a collaborative effort that helps the company really think through what they want their contracts to communicate with their customers about data use and building trust in the process.”

Each of the 11 questions is based upon one or more of the ADT Core Principles. For example, one principle is portability--farmers should be able to move ag data from one platform and to be used in another platform. Accordingly, question 4 in the certification questionnaire asks: After I upload data to the Ag Tech Provider, will it be possible to retrieve my original complete dataset in an original or equivalent format?

Participating companies must answer “yes” or “no” and provide an explanation why. The final answers after certification is complete are posted on the Ag Data Transparent website so that farmers, agronomists, and other ag professionals can review and clearly understand data use anytime they wish. The results also include hyperlinks to the companies' ag data contracts in case a farmer wants to more closely examine the applicable contract language.

When a participating company changes or updates its ag data contracts, the company's answers must be updated as well if they want to continue to use the Ag Data Transparent seal. In addition, each certified company undertakes an annual renewal to ensure continued compliance.

By going through this process, companies illustrate their commitment to transparency, simplicity and trust with their customers.