The Commonwealth Secretariat has released a new guide to help member countries build stronger data systems for agriculture and food security.

The National Agricultural Data Infrastructure (NAgDI) Policy Guide gives governments a five-year plan to create trusted, connected, and well-managed national data systems. The guide was developed over three years with input from governments, experts, and partners across the Commonwealth and offers practical steps for managing agricultural data between public and private sectors.

This work is part of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment, which helps countries build the base for fair and inclusive digital economies.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey said, “In a world where shocks – economic, environmental, or social – arrive with increasing intensity, reliable and trusted data systems are not a luxury; they are a necessity. Our goal is to ensure no farmer is invisible, no innovator locked out, and no government flying blind. Data should serve people, communities and futures.”

Dreli Silas Solomon, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Vanuatu and representative of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, said, “[NAgDI] is about giving each country the tools and infrastructure it needs to coordinate data and support investors, young innovators, traders, and producers.”

Dr Benjamin Addom, Adviser on Agriculture and Fisheries Trade Policy at the Commonwealth Secretariat and policy lead for NAgDI, said “Data has become the new soil of agriculture. When data stays fragmented and disconnected, countries lose value and control. NAgDI helps governments bring those pieces together to support better policy, fairer markets, and smarter innovation.”

The policy guide focuses on four key areas for national investment: data governance and principles, independent oversight, interoperable technologies, and sustainable financing.

The guide draws on experiences from Malawi, Ghana, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean. It notes that many countries already have strong data systems in place, but need better coordination to combine them under a national strategy.

The Commonwealth Secretariat will now support member states in turning the guide into national action plans and help them find funding and technical support to get started.

The full NAgDI Policy Guide is available at thecommonwealth.org/national-agricultural-data-infrastructure .