[Last updated 28/7/2026]

 

What information we collect

When you register for and use the Farm Health Check, we may collect:

Contact and registration information

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Farm name and address
  • Single Business Identifier (SBI)
  • Information about farm management software used

Farm Health Check data

To generate Farm Health Check outputs, we may collect and process information relating to your farming activities, including:

  • Farm boundaries and land parcels
  • Crop and production information
  • Yield data
  • Fertiliser application information
  • Pesticide application information
  • Other farm management information entered into the service

Derived information

Using information you provide, together with UKCEH datasets, models and spatial information, we generate environmental and farm performance metrics and indicators.

Why we use your information

We use your information to:

  • Provide the Farm Health Check service.
  • Generate farm-specific environmental and performance assessments.
  • Improve and develop the Farm Health Check service.
  • Undertake scientific research relating to sustainable agriculture, environmental management and land use.
  • Produce statistical analysis and benchmarking information.
  • Monitor the effectiveness and impact of AgZero+ activities.

Research and benchmarking

Data provided through the Farm Health Check may be used by UKCEH for research purposes.
Where benchmarking, reporting or research outputs are produced, UKCEH will normally use aggregated and anonymised information. This means that outputs are designed so that individual farmers, farms and locations cannot reasonably be identified.

Examples of benchmarking outputs may include:

  • Average yields across groups of farms.
  • Average fertiliser application rates.
  • Average pesticide application rates.
  • Environmental performance indicators and metrics.
  • Other aggregated findings derived from Farm Health Check data.

Sharing information

UKCEH will not share farm-level input data, farm boundaries, SBI numbers or identifiable farm locations with external organisations unless required by law or with the explicit agreement of the farmer concerned.

UKCEH may share aggregated and anonymised research outputs and benchmarking information with:

  • Research collaborators and academic institutions.
  • Project partners.
  • Funding bodies.
  • Government and public sector organisations.
  • Other organisations supporting agricultural and environmental research.

Where data is shared for research purposes, UKCEH will take all reasonable steps to ensure that individual farms, land parcels and farmers cannot be identified from the information provided.

Future research use

UKCEH may use Farm Health Check data for future agricultural, environmental and scientific research projects that are compatible with the original purposes for which the information was collected.

Identifiable farm-level information will remain under UKCEH's control and access will be restricted to authorised individuals with a legitimate research or operational need.

Demonstration and case studies

If UKCEH wishes to use information from a specific farm as a named example, demonstration site, case study or presentation example where identification may be possible, we will seek separate permission from the relevant farmer before doing so.

Lawful basis

UKCEH processes personal data in connection with the Farm Health Check under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Processing may be undertaken where it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest, for scientific research purposes, or where another appropriate lawful basis applies.

Keeping you informed

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. Where significant changes are made to how information is used, we will take reasonable steps to notify registered users and publish the updated notice on the AgZero+ website.

Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Notice or how your information is used, please contact:

UKCEH Data Protection Officer
Email: dataprotection@ceh.ac.uk


Note: There is s separate general AgZero+ privacy notice.