From Food Commons to Data Spaces: Shaping Data Governance for and with Sustainable Food Systems

  • Panel
  • Maritime
  • Thursday 22.05 — 17:20 - 18:40

Organising Institution

Wageningen Social and Economic Research

Netherlands

  • Academic 2
  • Business 2
  • Policy 2
This panel examines data governance in the agri-food sector, focusing on recent EU regulations that have fostered the creation of data spaces. These initiatives provide an opportunity to revisit the concept of commons, long associated with food systems, and explore the potential of data spaces as inclusive governance models for sustainable food systems. The discussion will address critical issues surrounding data flows, access, and sharing practices, examining the roles of public, private, and civil society actors in shaping agri-food data governance. Drawing on theoretical perspectives, fieldwork, and case studies in agricultural data spaces, the panel will explore how frameworks such as the GDPR, and data regulations, influence the balance between public and private interests. This session aims to offer insights into fostering innovation, equity, and sustainability in food data governance by unpacking data governance structures and the commons.

Questions to be answered

  1. After the user-centric EU regulations like GDPR and the Data Act, do we need to regulate B2B data re-use conditions?
  2. How can data spaces foster trust among stakeholders, what mechanisms are necessary to ensure that these spaces remain transparent and inclusive?
  3. How can we balance data holder rights with access and reuse opportunities to drive innovation and growth in the farm-to-fork chain?
  4. What mechanisms or safeguards can balance stakeholders' interests, foster collaboration, and drive innovation while preventing free-riding and preserving data collection incentives?

Moderator

Pia Groenewolt

Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Belgium

Pia Groenewolt is a Ph.D. researcher at VUB’s d.pia.lab (LSTS), examining the intersections of data governance and food systems through the lenses of sociology, political science, and human rights. Her work draws on experience in both policy, activism, and research, exploring how data-driven solutions can align with societal needs and rights.

Speaker

Can Atik

Wageningen Social and Economic Research - Netherlands

Dr. Can Atik is a legal researcher specializing in data law and digital transformation, with a focus on the agricultural sector. Based in the Wageningen Social and Economic Research (WSER) in the Netherlands, Dr Atik has expertise in the EU Data Act, Data Governance Act, and AI Act. His current research explores data access, sharing, and the implications of digital policy frameworks for innovation and sustainability in agri-food systems. Dr Atik holds a PhD in Law from Tilburg Law School and has published several academic papers and contributed to several EU-funded research projects.

Speaker

Elena Spolidoro

Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur - Netherlands

Elena is a policy advisor at the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, where she supports developments around digitalization and robotization in relation to national and EU innovation programs (such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe). Elena focuses on the impact that (new) laws and regulations on data and AI have on digital innovation in agri-food domains, and how to support compliance and high ethical standards in the innovation process. Elena holds an Integrated Master of Arts in Law from Bocconi University, is an Italian lawyer, and is specialized in the regulation and social aspects of digital technologies (L.L.M. in Law and Technology at Tilburg University). Before joining the Ministry, Elena worked as privacy officer for a Dutch consultancy firm.

Speaker

Seth van Hooland

European Commission - Europe

Seth van Hooland works as a policy officer at DG AGRI in the Data Governance Unit, where he’s responsible for interoperability & data standardisation. Before joining DG AGRI, he worked at the Interoperable Europe Unit (DIGIT) and was an associate professor at the Université libre de Bruxelles, exploring how semantics can make the Web a better place for humans & machines.