Data Act 2025: a revolution in agricultural machinery data management
It’s called the Data Act, and few are yet familiar with what could be described as a true “ecosystem” for accessing and managing agricultural data. Yet, it officially came into effect on 12 September 2025, under the designation EU Regulation 2023/2854, and it seems set to inaugurate a new era in managing data generated by connected agricultural machinery. Essentially, the regulation requires manufacturers to ensure farmers have access to and portability of field-collected data, promoting transparency and interoperability across different digital systems. The main goal is to create a fairer data market, where farmers and contractors can use the information collected by agricultural machines to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in their operations. Of course, the Data Act is not just a regulatory obligation, it’s a strategic opportunity for the whole sector. Farms that adopt compliant solutions early can gain a competitive edge by optimising operations and increasing the value of their services. For manufacturers, the regulation demands technological and organisational adjustments, but it also opens the door to new business models based on the secure and transparent sharing of data.
The regulation clearly distinguishes between data holders, data users, and data recipients. Holders, typically machinery manufacturers or third-party suppliers, control the data generated during machine use. They are responsible for ensuring the quality, security, and availability of data to authorised users. Users, such as farmers and contractors, have the right to access data generated by the machinery, while recipients are entities chosen by users to receive the data, including management software, agronomy consultants, or public authorities. Data regulated under the Data Act includes raw data automatically collected by machinery, pre-processed data that is readable and interpretable, metadata providing context for the collected information, and service-related data generated by applications or digital services connected to the machinery. Data derived from complex proprietary algorithms, constituting the manufacturers’ reserved know-how, remains excluded.
The regulation establishes that users have the right to access all information stored within the machine, the cloud, or the flight recorder, regardless of the presence of an onboard display. This access enables farmers to monitor the status of their machinery, plan maintenance, and optimize field operations. However, access is not unlimited. Data not stored in the cloud, data collected via aftermarket telematics kits not controlled by the OEM, and data derived from complex proprietary algorithms remain the property of the manufacturer. This balance between transparency and intellectual property protection ensures that users can control their data without compromising manufacturers’ technological innovation. Users can consult standard error messages, operational data, and telemetry, while diagnostic algorithms based on proprietary know-how remain excluded. This way, operators can optimise daily tasks without interfering with system security or industrial property.
Manufacturers must ensure that data is portable, interoperable, and available in standard readable formats, such as ISOXML or common cloud platforms. They must provide pre-contractual transparency, avoid abusive clauses, and offer technical support to users for data sharing. These obligations apply not only to new machinery released after September 2025 but also to existing contracts, which must be updated by 2027 to remove unfair clauses. Dealers and independent repairers play complementary roles. They may be data holders only when accessing information otherwise inaccessible, such as data from a machine’s black box. In most cases, they act as data recipients, receiving data from the manufacturer to provide maintenance or diagnostic services while ensuring operational compliance and system security.
Farmers and contractors have the right to free access to connected machinery data, both personal and non-personal. Personal data should only be shared if strictly necessary, adopting anonymisation measures whenever possible. Farmers cannot prevent manufacturers from using the data for maintenance and engineering purposes but retain control over its transfer and use. Contractors, while not generating the data themselves, become data users and have the right to access it to manage operations on third-party fields. The regulation also provides voluntary guidelines, such as the EU Code of Conduct for Agricultural Data Sharing, which orient best practices among manufacturers, farmers, and contractors.
In Western European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, farms already have advanced digital infrastructures, making the implementation of the Data Act smoother. Adoption of cloud platforms and integrated management systems allows fast and secure data access and facilitates collaboration among manufacturers, farmers, and service providers. In Eastern European countries, including Romania and Hungary, agricultural digitalisation is still developing. Many farms are introducing connected machinery, but cloud infrastructures and interoperable standards are less widespread. Compliance with the new rules requires investment in technology, staff training, and IT system updates, representing both a challenge and an opportunity to modernise the sector.
Implementing the Data Act involves initial costs for manufacturers and dealers, related to software development, system updates, and staff training. However, it also fosters the creation of new digital services, increases transparency and user trust, and opens innovative business scenarios based on smart data use. Farmers and contractors can obtain more accurate information to optimise crops, maintenance, and fleet management, improving both profitability and sustainability. The regulation does not mandate specific technical methods for data sharing but requires quality, readability, compatibility, and timely delivery. Users can obtain data via APIs, cloud platforms, or direct export from manufacturer systems. If multiple data holders exist, the user must coordinate with each, respecting contractual constraints, security, and industrial secrets. Data transfer to non-EU countries requires measures to prevent unauthorised access, ensuring information protection and compliance with European regulations. Sharing can occur directly from the proprietary cloud or through specific legal contracts that regulate data flows and ensure compliant usage. Implementing the Data Act certainly requires technological investment, management system updates, and operator training. The main challenges are interoperability, data security, and contractual compliance. Yet, the regulation opens significant prospects: integrated digital agriculture, predictive tools to improve yields and reduce waste, innovative services from manufacturers, and greater trust between operators and clients. The European agricultural sector is preparing for a new standardisation of the entire data management system, making data a strategic asset—a key element for technological growth and sustainability, further evolving how agricultural machinery and the whole production ecosystem are managed.