Enhancing Food Security Through Data Interoperability
Read about the commitment “A Hunger for the How: Accelerating Interoperability for Food Security Through a Community of Practice” here.
As technology continues to evolve, the need for data and system interoperability becomes more pertinent, especially in the area of agricultural production and food insecurity. To meet this need, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) has committed to creating an Interoperability Community of Practice, supporting publications on best practices for interoperability in data ecosystems, and disseminating knowledge about interoperability for agriculture systems and food security.
DG has been a leader in best practices for data interoperability in agriculture and food security long before their commitment at the 2024 UNWDF. For example, their Livestock Information Vision for Ethiopia (aLIVE) program has been working in Ethiopia since 2022 to implement an interoperable, timely livestock data system to inform the agriculture sector and increase food insecurity.
Members of the ALIVE team at their livestock knowledge study trip in New Zealand
Knowledge-Sharing in Action: DG’s Publications on agriculture systems and food security data interoperability
- Demystifying Interoperability: Insights from our work in Ethiopia’s agriculture sector is a white paper that draws on DG’s experience to explain what interoperability means, exemplifies its importance with practical examples from Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, and provides insightful recommendations on improving data systems. The white paper can be found here, and a summary of the key takeaways can be found here.
- Transforming Ethiopia’s Livestock Sector: Insights from the New Zealand Study Tour provides a look at the lessons the aLIVE program learned about strengthening data systems to enhance its livestock sector to improve food security.
- “Unlocking Africa’s Agricultural Potential: Introducing the Soil Nutrient Roadmap” explains DG’s role in creating an inter-operable and data-driven platform to identify soil health issues, coordinate response, and inform actions and policies in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Ghana.
- “Defining Decision-Making: Connecting the Dots Between Data and Impact” is the first entry in DG’s blog series explaining how their work with the aLIVE program and how the use of an interoperable livestock data system allows for real impact for food systems across Ethiopia.
Knowledge Sharing Through Presentations and Workshops:
DG has also shared their knowledge and participated in numerous discussions about data interoperability for agriculture and food systems, including:
- 25 June 2025: The aLIVE team led a workshop for the Ethiopian Statistical Service where the groups worked together on implementing the National Livestock Data Standard.
- 24 June 2025: At Open Data Charter's "Open Data in Practice: Lessons learned from data interoperability" event, DG Director of Policy Beverley Hatcher-Mbu presents on the Demystifying Interoperability white paper and shares insights on DG’s work in Ethiopia.
- 28 November 2024: DG co-organized the “From Knowledge to Action: The Impact of Agritech Knowledge Sharing Platforms on Evidence-Based Policy” event. The webinar emphasized the crucial role of knowledge sharing platforms for agriculture, and DG Program Manager for DAS Mbaita Maka highlighted the DAS Digital Agriculture Resource Library.
Looking ahead
Despite the great progress DG has made already, there is still more to be done. As DG continues to disseminate knowledge on data interoperability and assist countries in strengthening agriculture data systems, the forthcoming Interoperability Community of Practice will advance interoperability and lead to cohesive, integrated data systems.