1. Introduction

The ClimAppTech Weather Stations Data Hub application, developed and maintained by Agval Networks (Pty) T/A ClimApp Technologies ("we," "our," or "us"), is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our weather data services, including our website, data retrieval, and data analysis tools (collectively referred to as the "Service").

We adhere to the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and are committed to ensuring the privacy and security of your personal data.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Data Controller

For the purposes of the GDPR, Agval Networks (Pty) T/A ClimApp Technologies is the data controller responsible for your personal data. The ClimAppTech Weather Stations Data Hub application was developed primarily to support application, usage and dissemination of weather data and information. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Data Protection Officer
AgVal Networks (Pty) Ltd, T/A ClimAppTechnologies
Email: privacy@climapptech.com
Address: AgVal Networks, T/A ClimAppTechnologies, Gaborone, Botswana

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Personal Data

We collect personal data that you voluntarily provide to us when you register for the Service, express interest in obtaining information about our services, or otherwise contact us. The personal data we collect may include:

• Account Information: Email address, username, password, display name
• Profile Information: Country, institution, user category (agriculture, research, education, etc.)
• Usage Purpose: Information about how you intend to use the weather data
• Contact Information: Information you provide when contacting our support team

3.2 Usage Data

We automatically collect information about how you interact with our Service. This usage data may include:

• Data Retrieval Records: Information about which stations, parameters, and time periods you access or download
• Access Patterns: Frequency and time of your access to the Service
• Alert Subscriptions: Information about which weather alerts you subscribe to

3.3 Technical Data

We collect technical information about your device and internet connection, including:

• IP Address: To determine your approximate location and for security purposes
• Browser Type and Version: To optimize our Service for your browser
• Device Information: Operating system and device type
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: As described in our Cookie Policy

4. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data for the following purposes and legal bases:

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal data with the following categories of recipients:

5.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as data hosting, email delivery, analytics, and customer support. These providers are contractually bound to use personal data only for the purposes of providing services to us.

5.2 Weather Station Owners

Limited information about data downloads (including institution, country, and purpose of use, but not personal identifiers) may be shared with the owners of the weather stations whose data you access, for the purposes of understanding data usage patterns and improving their services.

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).

5.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our website of any change in ownership or uses of your personal data.

5.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information with other parties with your consent or at your direction.

6. International Data Transfers

Your personal data may be processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country.

When we transfer personal data outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) or other regions with data protection laws, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

7. Data Security

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the security of your personal data, including:

• Encryption of sensitive data at rest and in transit
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Staff training on data protection and security procedures
• Incident response plans for potential data breaches

While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee its absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. The criteria used to determine our retention periods include:

• Account Information: Retained for the duration of your account plus 30 days after account closure
• Usage Data: Retained for 3 years for analytical purposes and to support station network institutions' funding applications
• Download Records: Retained for 5 years for scientific integrity, citation purposes, and to demonstrate usage to station network institutions' stakeholders
• Technical Data: Typically retained for 90 days, then anonymized for statistical analysis

When you request account deletion, we will schedule your personal data for removal after a 30-day grace period, during which you may cancel your deletion request. After this period, your personal information (such as name, email, and other identifiers) will be anonymized, while non-identifiable usage statistics will be retained for analytical purposes to support station network intstitutions's funding applications. This anonymized data cannot be traced back to you personally.

When we no longer need to process your personal data, we will either delete or anonymize it so that it can no longer be associated with you.

9. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer using the contact details provided above. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

If you believe that our processing of your personal data infringes data protection laws, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. We would, however, appreciate the chance to address your concerns before you approach a supervisory authority, so please contact us first.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to anyone under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so that we can take steps to remove that information from our systems.

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Service and hold certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data that may include an anonymous unique identifier.

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the functioning of the Service, such as session management and security
• Preference Cookies: Allow us to remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our Service
• Authentication Cookies: Recognize you when you return to our Service

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

For significant changes to this Privacy Policy, we will make reasonable efforts to provide notification through the Service or via email if we have your contact information.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer at:

Data Protection Officer
AgVal Networks (Pty) Ltd, T/A ClimAppTechnologies
Email: privacy@climapptech.com
Address: AgVal Networks, T/A ClimAppTechnologies, Gaborone, Botswana