Envisioning food and agricultural data for the future: Engaging communities to identify trusted data
This webinar will focus on how to respond to the changing data landscape that is likely to affect food and agricultural research. Join us on June 20 to learn how to contribute to a community-driven roadmap for improving the accessibility, transparency, and utility of food and agricultural data.
About This Webinar
How can researchers and decision-makers respond to the changing data landscape that is likely to affect food and agricultural research? As uncertainty grows about the availability of federally produced data, the research community may need to build new approaches for identifying which alternative data sources are reliable, transparent, and fit for purpose.
Join us for a webinar on June 20 where we will address the following questions: What could be the role of the user community in signaling which specific food and agricultural research data are trustworthy? And how can future data infrastructures better reflect community assessment of data quality?
What You'll Learn
- Why "trusted data" is more than the way data are produced—such as accurate or well-documented—but also whether data are usable, relevant, and timely for the questions researchers and decision-makers need to answer
- The difference between data that are available and data that are fit for purpose
- How researchers are navigating data access challenges through applied research use cases
- How federal agencies are using dashboard tools to track data usage and support research communities
- How the Extension community is building practical, AI-enabled tools like ExtensionBot and MERLIN to support public-facing research and education
- How national initiatives like the National Data Platform are working to develop resilient, community-aligned data infrastructure that meets evolving user needs
Who Should Attend
The session is designed for researchers, agency staff, Extension professionals, and applied data users working across food and agricultural policy. While we recognize the foundational role of federal statistical agencies, the discussion will highlight how data needs have evolved, particularly around access, granularity, and usability.
Speakers will share examples of researchers and institutions developing new data resources in response to emerging needs. These cases are intended to encourage discussion about collaboration and future investments.
Registration Information
Registration is free and open to all interested participants. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the webinar link and additional details.
Register for the Webinar
Please provide your email to receive the webinar registration link and updates about the event.
Event Details
Date: June 20, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST
Format: Online Webinar
Platform: GoToWebinar (Browser Compatible)