The National Farmers ' Federation has warned the farm sector will be exposed to hoo-hah unless farmers take an fighting pastime in how their data point is managed and secured .

Speaking from the FutureAG conference in Melbourne today , NFF Data Policy Manager Gabi Ceregra pronounce the increasing digitisation of Australian farms brought tremendous benefits but also risks that want to be managed .

" Farmer are using a grow number of apps and digital technologies to increase the productivity of their farms . What that have in mind is , as an diligence , we ’re project a billow in the volume of data point hold in the cloud , and that data is becoming more and more valuable to husbandman . As we become more reliant on digital technology , we also become more vulnerable if that data is misused . That could be in the frame of a cyber - onset , but also by not see the business modelling of the platform you ’re using and how they ’ll share and commercialize your datum . "

Professor Robin Doss is the Director of the Centre for Cyber Resilience and Trust at Deakin University . He warn that agriculture need to recognise the grandness of cybersecurity and the realism of cyber risks .

" We ’ve seen in late years with major rupture from Optus or Medibank making headline just how dominant data breaches have become . As industry bosom Modern variety of mechanization into the future , the consequences of a breach will be magnified , so now is the metre to get in force systems in position . "

" Some late incidents have involve major multi - billion - dollar bill company with huge IT imagination . On the other hand , most farms do n’t have an IT department , so keeping datum secure will total down in part to industry - wide initiatives . That ’s where the Farm Data Code can play an important role . "

Launched in 2020 with certification commencing in 2023 , the Australian Farm Data Code assesses providers against industry measure include data surety , foil , farmer control and portability – aim to recognize best practice supplier for doing the right-hand thing .

" We presently have six package supplier certified against the Code and a strong word of mouth of company undergo assessment , " Ms Ceregra said .

" What ’s critical is that farmers help drive this change and dispute their providers to elevate their standard and get certified . Certification means the NFF has done the hard work for you , with an independent expert panel reviewing a supplier ’s data standards and processes to ensure compliance with the Code . Our information certificate is only as strong as our weak tie-in . If you ’re confide your data to a supplier not certified against the Code , then you do n’t have the benefit of that independent assessment . "

" The message to farmers is , look for the Farm Data Code licence logo . If your provider does n’t have it , ask them to get certified . As an diligence represent of small to intermediate line , our data security is a squad sport , and every James Leonard Farmer has a role to act , " Ms Ceregra concluded .

To learn more about the Farm Data Code and see a list of certified providers , dawn here .

informant : nff.org.au