Ag Tech Talk Podcast: Building a Common Language for Agricultural Data
12 November 2026 Agriculture’s growing reliance on digital tools has made data interoperability an increasingly important industry challenge. In this episode of Ag Tech Talk, Samantha Murray, Head of Product Data at Compass Regulatory, discusses how disconnected platforms and inconsistent data can create inefficiencies and complicate regulatory compliance. Murray explores the need for a common language across agricultural technology platforms, the challenges of maintaining accurate crop protection label data, and the added complexity of EPA Endangered Species Act requirements — and how better-connected regulatory information can streamline compliance and support more informed decisions across the ag value chain.
Podcast Transcript:
*This is an edited and partial transcript.
AgriBusiness Global: What are the biggest barriers to creating a common language that allows different agricultural companies and technology platforms to work together, and what needs to change for the industry to make better use of existing data?
Samantha Murray: I think the biggest challenge is agreeing on common language and definitions. Two organizations may use the same word to describe slightly different things, or use different words to describe the same thing. Without agreement on what those definitions mean across organizations, it becomes difficult to share and interpret data consistently.
Another barrier is investment. Retailers and software companies have years of records built around the information already available in their systems. Implementing a new standard means mapping all that historical data to a new standard, which requires time and resources.
ABG: Looking ahead three to five years, what could better-connected regulatory data mean for crop protection companies, retailers, applicators and growers? What improvements would you like to see in how the industry accesses and uses this information?
SM: I think there are a variety of benefits. We’re already seeing an example with AgroGuide and its digital label initiative in the EU. Here in the U.S., crop protection companies working with federal and state agencies to move toward digital labels could help expedite the review and approval process, bringing important products to those who need them in the field more quickly.
For retailers, applicators and growers, better-connected data could mean spending less time reconciling information across systems and more time in the field advising customers. At the organizational level, having access to the most current information can also help reduce operational risk.
Some of the building blocks already exist, but the opportunity lies in broader adoption, stronger connections and better communication around data changes. Ultimately, dependable foundational data and a common language would allow organizations to spend less time maintaining information and more time developing useful tools that deliver greater value to their users.
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