During a virtual panel on data protection organized by Food Tank and the Refresh Working Group, experts discussed the ways that policies and community engagement can facilitate the fair use of data in the food system.

Moderated by Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg, and journalist Chloe Sorvino of Forbes, the event is part of a weeklong series about the intersection of food and technology.

Moderated by Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg, and journalist Chloe Sorvino of Forbes, the event is part of a weeklong series about the intersection of food and technology. Panelists include: Kacey Hanson Program Manager, Department of Population Health at University of Texas Dell Medical School; Ali Lange Government Affairs & Public Policy – Privacy at Google; Matthew Lange, President and CEO of IC-FOODS; and Robyn O’Brien, Co-founder and Director of Partnerships for rePlant Capital.

Introducing the concept of data protection, Ali Lange helps to frame the conversation by explaining its importance. While people associate technology and data policy with companies like Google or internet providers, she says, they don’t always realize that it’s applicable to every industry.

The panelists note the many ways that technology is used in the food system today, from drones that help operate farms to data on community food security and nutritional health.

Ali Lange believes that changing this perception around technology and helping more people to safely use data can empower communities.

The use of data, however, raises a number of questions for the panelists. O’Brien and Matthew Lange, for example, wonder who owns the data that is produced, who has access to it, and how companies and other food system actors ultimately use it.

Read the full article about leveraging data to improve the food system by Elena Seeley at Food Tank.