Last Updated: February 12, 2025

1. Purpose & Scope

Welcome to Tech4Agri.org (the “Website”), operated by Tech4Agri (“we,” “us,” or “our”). Tech4Agri is a social enterprise and legally registered nonprofit organization under the laws of Trinidad & Tobago, focused on agricultural innovation, education, and community-building initiatives. Our online community platform (the “Forum” or “Community”) is designed to facilitate constructive dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among members, partners, and stakeholders across the Caribbean and around the world.

These Community/Forum Guidelines (“Guidelines”) set forth the standards of conduct for all individuals who participate in our Forum. They apply to all content posted by members, visitors, or other participants (“Users” or “you”) on the Forum and any related interactive areas on tech4agri.org (“Website”).

By accessing or participating in our Forum, you agree to comply with these Guidelines, as well as our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

2. Respectful & Constructive Interaction

  1. Civility & Respect

    • Users are expected to maintain a respectful tone and refrain from personal attacks, harassment, or hate speech directed at other members or groups.
    • Disagreements should focus on the topic, not on personal characteristics or attributes of other participants.

  2. Inclusive Community

    • We welcome a diverse range of opinions and backgrounds. Users should avoid content that discriminates against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other protected characteristic under T&T law or applicable international standards.

  3. Constructive Criticism

    • Feedback and criticism are encouraged, but should be offered in a constructive manner aimed at problem-solving or knowledge sharing.

3. Prohibited Conduct & Content

  1. Harassment & Threats

    • Threatening, abusive, or bullying behavior (including sexual harassment) is strictly prohibited.
    • Content that encourages self-harm or harm to others is not allowed.

  2. Hate Speech & Discrimination

    • Posts or messages that promote bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia, or any form of prejudice are not tolerated.

  3. Illegal or Harmful Activities

    • Do not post content that endorses or facilitates illegal activities, including but not limited to drug trafficking, money laundering, or hacking.
    • Content depicting or encouraging violence, terrorism, or extremism is strictly disallowed.

  4. Spam & Commercial Promotions

    • Unsolicited advertising, promotional links, or repetitive off-topic postings (spam) are not permitted.
    • Users may share relevant resources or discuss commercial opportunities in designated areas, if expressly allowed and compliant with our Terms.

  5. Sexually Explicit Content

    • Pornographic or sexually graphic material is not allowed.
    • Discussions related to sexual health or reproduction may be permissible if approached in a respectful, educational manner.

  6. Personal Data & Privacy Violations

    • Users must not post personal or private information about others (e.g., addresses, phone numbers) without explicit consent.
    • Always adhere to our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws (including T&T’s Data Protection Act and, where relevant, the EU’s GDPR).

4. Intellectual Property & Content Ownership

  1. Original Content

    • Users should post only content they have created or have rights to distribute.
    • Unauthorized use of copyrighted or trademarked material is prohibited.

  2. Attribution

    • When referencing or quoting content from external sources, provide proper attribution (e.g., hyperlinks, citations).

  3. User-Generated Content License

    • By posting content on our Forum, you grant Tech4Agri a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and display that content for the purpose of operating and promoting the Forum.
    • You represent and warrant that you hold all necessary rights to grant this license.

5. Moderation & Enforcement

  1. Moderator Role

    • Tech4Agri or its designated moderators oversee the Forum to ensure compliance with these Guidelines.
    • Moderators may edit, move, or remove content that violates these Guidelines or that they deem inappropriate, disruptive, or off-topic.

  2. Warnings & Penalties

    • Depending on the severity of the violation, moderators may issue warnings, temporarily suspend posting privileges, or permanently ban users from the Forum.
    • Decisions made by moderators are final. Users who feel their content was removed or that they were penalized unjustly may contact Tech4Agri at [forum@tech4agri.org] to request a review.

  3. Reporting Violations

    • Users are encouraged to report suspicious or rule-violating content to moderators using the “Report” function or by emailing [forum@tech4agri.org].
    • Tech4Agri will handle such reports promptly but cannot guarantee immediate action in every case.

6. Disclaimer of Liability

  1. User-Generated Content

    • Opinions, advice, and statements expressed by Users in the Forum do not necessarily reflect the views of Tech4Agri. We do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy or reliability of any information posted by Users.
    • Tech4Agri is not liable for any damages resulting from reliance on user-generated content.

  2. Monitoring & Control

    • While we strive to maintain a safe and respectful environment, we cannot pre-screen all content. You acknowledge that you may be exposed to content that is inaccurate, offensive, or otherwise objectionable.

  3. Professional Advice

    • Any agricultural, technical, or financial advice shared in the Forum is for general informational purposes only. For specific concerns, Users should consult qualified professionals.

7. Data Protection & Privacy

  1. Collection of Personal Data

    • We collect personal data during Forum registration and participation, in compliance with T&T’s Data Protection Act (2011) and, where applicable, international data protection laws such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
    • For details on how we handle personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

  2. Retention

    • Tech4Agri may retain Forum posts, comments, and related user data for as long as necessary to fulfill the Forum’s operational or legal obligations.
    • Users may request deletion of their personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, though we may retain non-personal or anonymized portions of their posts to preserve discussion threads.

8. Changes to These Guidelines

We reserve the right to amend or update these Community/Forum Guidelines at any time. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this document indicates when modifications were last made. Significant changes will be communicated via email or a notice on our Website. Your continued participation in the Forum after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Guidelines.

9. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Guidelines are governed by the laws of Trinidad & Tobago. Any disputes arising from or related to the Forum or these Guidelines shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Trinidad & Tobago, unless otherwise required by law in your place of residence.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about these Guidelines or the Forum in general, please contact us thefuture@tech4agri.org.