Changing food governance through governing data for food

The second UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)is targeted to achieve food security by the end of 2030. Donors and NGOs take effort to improve collaboration at global level, to strengthen the interconnectedness between global- and local levels, and to set up mechanisms to hold governments accountable for reaching the SDG goals. Meantime, however, the data revolution is changing food governance rapidly. Many recognize that the massive use of mobile phones, satellite observations, and drones has -or could have- major effects on the governance of food security. The question however remains unclear how to make effective use of the data. This paper assumes that big data is changing food governance autonomously, but that it can also be governed in such a way that it becomes more useful. In this paper we explore one style of data governing that is targeted to improve food security. This method focuses on concrete data user-questions, and develops new data application tools, such as mobile apps and dashboards, to address the user-questions. Thus far, the impact this new type of data- and tool governance is unknown. In this paper we explore how this style of using data and tools affect food security governance and how the governing organizations can use them to improve food security. We include the effects at the community, national, and global level. The focus is on tools and data that are co-produced by innovation accelerators and operational organizations such as the World Food Program.