DAO4HS

The DAO4HS (Data Altruism Organisation for Hinterland Systems) project tackles critical data gaps in sustainable land use by establishing trusted Data Altruism Organisations (DAOs) across the European Union. Anchored in the principles of the EU Data Governance Act (DGA) , DAO4HS empowers all actors of the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector to securely and transparently share data using privacy-preserving, energy-effi cient digital technologies.

At its core, DAO4HS leverages cutting-edge decentralized technologies—including:

Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)
Verifiable Credentials (VCs)
Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs)

These tools enable secure, privacy-preserving data exchanges within trusted digital enclaves, supporting interoperable and responsible data sharing across diverse value propositions like:

Regenerative agriculture
Carbon sequestration
Biodiversity conservation

DAO4HS ensures data interoperability and openness by using open-source harmonized data models and adhering to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Human-Centric Design and Real-World Pilots: DAO4HS is not just a technical initiative—it is deeply human-centric. The project follows a participatory design approach, actively engaging different stakeholder groups in Austria to pilot biodiversity purpose-driven data exchange. Early use cases include high-value data sets for:

grazed areas
pollinator-friendly areas

Users interact with the system through tailored web and mobile applications, underpinned by strong ethical safeguards that ensure privacy, informed consent, and data sovereignty.

Deliverables and Impact: DAO4HS aims to reach Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL 7) with a functional technical prototype, while also delivering:

Operational DAOs
High-value public-benefit datasets
A replicable DAO Rulebook
A scalable governance and business model
A sustainability-oriented business plan
A Vision for Scalable, Ethical, and
Sustainable Data Governance

By aligning digital innovation with environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and public benefit, DAO4HS offers a pioneering model for decentralized data governance. It has the potential to transform land use management and empower communities across Europe through trusted data altruism.

Motivation for the project: DAO4HS addresses critical land use data gaps with energy-effi cient, privacy-preserving digital norms like DIDs, VCs, and ZKPs. It is essential for TrustChain to support sustainable, compliant, and inclusive data networks aligned with the EU Restore Nature Law and Data Governance Act.
Generic use case description: Land users share regenerative practices via a DAO using Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Verifi able Credentials, enabling policymakers to access trusted, privacy-preserving data for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration incentives.
Essential functionalities: DAO4HS delivers secure data sharing via DAOs using DIDs, VCs, and Zero-Knowledge Proofs; interoperable semantic data models; user-friendly consent and permission management; and energy-effi cient infrastructure aligned with EU DGA and FAIR principles.
How these functionalities can be integrated within the software ecosystem: DAO4HS integrates with Trustchain by anchoring DIDs and VCs, leveraging ZKPs for privacy-preserving verifi cation, managing user consent, and ensuring compliance with FAIR and EU DGA through auditable, energy-effi cient, interoperable infrastructure.
Gap being addressed: DAO4HS addresses the lack of trusted, regulated, energy-effi cient, and privacy-preserving data governance. Existing systems fall short on interoperability, EU DGA compliance, and inclusivity—limiting sustainable collaboration in the LULUCF sector.
Expected benefits achieved with the novel technology building blocks: The novel building blocks enable secure, low-energy, and privacy-preserving data sharing; improve regulatory compliance; foster data sovereignty for smallholders; and support scalable, interoperable governance for sustainable land use aligned with the EU Green Deal and TrustChain goals.
Potential demonstration scenario: A pilot DAO enables land users in Austria and Germany to share verifi ed data on grazing to create an EU-wide high-value data set based on the INSPIRE standard. Policymakers and NGOs access trusted insights for carbon credits and biodiversity programs, demonstrating secure, consent-based data exchange.