"UTIA Analyzes Data Security and Privacy Concerns of Precision Dairy Management Systems"
A team of researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has received a US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) new investigator seed grant to explore data security and privacy risks associated with the use of Precision Dairy Management (PDM) systems. This study will delve into the types and extent of PDM systems used by Tennessee dairy farmers, as well as the potential data security risks posed by these devices and how farmers and technology developers perceive these threats. During the milking process, PDM systems help farmers maximize dairy output through data collection and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. PDM systems help improve animal welfare, detect and prevent disease, reduce livestock discomfort, and analyze milk production. Although there are potential long-term benefits to profitability and animal health, data breaches and privacy violations may pose a safety risk. The project will analyze the types of Internet-Connected Devices (ICDs) in PDM systems and how they are used. Researchers will work to determine how potential security breaches and unwanted online access could impact farmers on a local, state, and national scale. This article continues to discuss the research project on analyzing data security concerns and privacy risks of using PDM systems.