Transparency is key to Cargill’s approach for handling your personal data

What to expect when you provide your farm’s data for the RegenConnect program

Part of the contract between Cargill and RegenConnect farm customers requires data collection on your farm land, soil testing, and farm practices. Some of that information may be considered personal data. As we open the online portal for your first round of data entry in January, you may have questions about what Cargill plans to do with all that information. It’s a matter we take very seriously.

In October 2020, Cargill created the role of global Chief Privacy Officer. Elaine Olson, a lawyer by training and our very first CPO, has dedicated herself for years to all matters surrounding data privacy.

“Appointing a CPO signals our deep commitment to taking care of the personal data of our customers, farmers, employees, and partners” she says. “Cargill has had a privacy program for over a decade. We were forward-looking on privacy in a comprehensive way early on and have since maintained our commitment to data privacy.”

To help everyone – employees and customers alike – understand our approach, Olson points directly to the company’s data north star, Cargill’s seven data privacy principles. These principles have been in place for many years and they serve as our guide for how the company handles personal data. We align our programs to these principles.

“Our privacy program extends to personal data that is processed and handled by Cargill. That may include our employee data, our supplier data, the data of our customers or visitors to our website, and farmers,” she explains. “We understand that farmers care about their data, and farmers are at the core of what we do. In this case, the data helps us serve farmers. That’s why we collect it.”  

"Earning and maintaining the trust of those whose data we handle is what we think of and work to achieve each and every day. It’s what drives our privacy team.”

Cargill chooses to be transparent so that farmers can make informed choices about participating in our programs.

“We want to earn and maintain trust, so transparency is one of our key principles. We choose to be upfront about how we will use data so that farmers can make informed decisions,” Olson says. “The way you build trust and create value is by being transparent. That’s the key to us. With trust, we can build partnerships and relationships for a long time.”

Click here to view Cargill’s full Business Information Notice.