Sustainable and FAIR data sharing in practice in agriculture contexts in Malawi – successes and challenges 

The Malawi Digital Plant Health Service (MaDiPHS) is a five-year initiative aimed at developing a digital tool for targeted and efficient pest and disease management in Malawi. The project focuses on five key crops—maize, tomato, cassava, groundnuts, and banana—along with their associated pests. MaDiPHS integrates national, regional, and global data with international web platforms to create a nationally tailored service that meets the specific needs of local users.  A core principle of the project is to leverage existing data assets as a foundation, prioritizing their use before collecting new data. This approach ensures efficiency and builds on established resources for the development of the digital plant health service.  In our initial report, we explored how CABI implemented the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) within MaDiPHS. This case study builds on that foundation, capturing insights and key learnings from project partners regarding the practical implementation of FAIR in the project.