INSPIRE Hackathons and SmartAfriHub – Roadmap for Addressing the Agriculture Data Challenges in Africa

Digital farming holds enormous potential for agricultural development, and giving farmers the tools to boost productivity and profitability. Although the benefits of digitalization are numerous, farmers feel they are not the ones benefiting from the value of data collected on their farms. Several issues were identified as factors restricting farmers from benefiting from data-driven agriculture. From the farmers’ perspective, there is a distinct lack of awareness of the issues surrounding farm data, and the complexity of these issues. This feeds into the imbalance that exists between individual farmers and larger agribusinesses wherein the former lack enough resources to address and analyse the significance of data, and so cannot take advantage of the value in it. There is also limited legislation for the generation, flow, exchange and use of data; where legislation does exist, it is not well understood by farmer organisations. From a policy perspective, moreover, there is very little guidance as to which agricultural data can be considered personal data, and therefore protected by privacy laws. This paper analyses the interactions and effects of the 5 Concepts: Open Agricultural Data, Open-Source Software, Citizen Science, privacy and legal and ethical issues that are assumed to advance the digitalization of African Food System (AFS and the enabling Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) - SmartAfriHub (https://www.smartafrihub.com/home).

Issues in the doctor–patient relationship

This chapter explores a range of legal and ethical issues involved in the doctor-patient relationship. It emphasises the need to ensure a doctor has consent before treatment. The law on the test for mental capacity and the meaning of consent is set out. Doctor’ duties to disclose risks associated with treatment are described. The legal and ethical treatment of advance directives are explained. The chapter also explains how medical professionals should treat patients who cannot consent and how a best interests assessment should be performed. It also addresses the question of when a child can give effective consent and the law regarding children who refuse treatment.

Issues in death and dying

This chapter explores the difficult questions surrounding end of life. It sets out the current legal position on murder, euthanasia and assisted dying. It also explores the ethical debates around the issue. The chapter highlights the thin lines between acts and omissions; and between intention and foresight which are the basis of the current law. It also discusses the principles of autonomy and dignity as principles which some believe should govern the ethical analysis of this area. The chapter also considers the legal and ethical issues concerning organ donation.

Medical research

This chapter discusses the legal and ethical issues related to medical research. It outlines international and national legal regulation. It discusses the important distinction between therapeutic and non-therapeutic research. The importance of consent and the protection of participants is highlighted.