1. Introduction

These Terms of Use and Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern access to and use of Ask ADZA, including any related websites, interfaces, applications, tools, data environments, and services made available by OpenTrace, operated under SusFEQT Agro & Farms B.V. (“OpenTrace,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). Ask ADZA is an agricultural intelligence platform designed to support structured, data-informed decision-making through the use of validated datasets, governed analytical systems, and controlled digital infrastructure. By accessing or using Ask ADZA, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the platform. These Terms are intended to establish a clear framework for how Ask ADZA may be used, what users may expect from the platform, and the responsibilities and limitations that apply to all parties. They are also intended to protect the integrity of the platform, the rights of OpenTrace and its partners, and the trust of the wider ecosystem in which the platform operates.

2. Who We Are

Ask ADZA is made available by OpenTrace, operated under SusFEQT Agro & Farms B.V. OpenTrace is the owner and operator of the platform and retains all rights, title, and interest in and to the Ask ADZA system, except where otherwise expressly stated. For the purposes of these Terms, “you” or “user” refers to any individual, institution, organization, or entity that accesses, browses, registers for, or otherwise uses Ask ADZA. Where a user accesses Ask ADZA on behalf of an organization, institution, or other legal entity, that user represents and warrants that they have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms. In such cases, references to “you” in these Terms include both the individual user and the organization they represent.

3. Scope of the Service

Ask ADZA is designed to provide structured decision intelligence derived from validated, governed, and traceable datasets. The platform may include, without limitation, data querying tools, analytical outputs, dashboards, data confidence frameworks, summaries, comparisons, and other forms of digital interaction intended to support understanding of agricultural, climate, market, or related system-level information. The service may evolve over time. OpenTrace may add, remove, modify, suspend, or discontinue parts of the platform, features, interfaces, or underlying technical components at its discretion. This includes both temporary and permanent changes where necessary for maintenance, security, product improvement, legal compliance, or strategic development. The availability of Ask ADZA may depend on geography, user category, partner arrangements, licensing models, pilot-stage limitations, or technical readiness. OpenTrace does not guarantee that all users will have access to all parts of the service at all times.

4. Acceptance of the Terms

By accessing or using Ask ADZA, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms, as well as any other policies incorporated by reference, including the Privacy Policy and any applicable Data Protection Policy. If you are using the platform as part of a pilot, organizational partnership, grant-funded implementation, institutional trial, or other structured arrangement, additional contractual terms may apply. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and a separately executed written agreement between you and OpenTrace, the written agreement will prevail to the extent of the conflict.

5. Eligibility and Authority to Use the Platform

You may use Ask ADZA only if you are legally capable of entering into a binding agreement under applicable law. If you are using the platform on behalf of an organization, you must be duly authorized to do so. You may not use Ask ADZA if your access is prohibited by applicable law, if your account has been suspended or terminated by OpenTrace, or if your intended use would place OpenTrace, its infrastructure, its users, or its partners at undue legal, operational, reputational, or security risk. OpenTrace reserves the right to determine eligibility for platform access and may deny, suspend, or revoke access at its discretion where it considers such action necessary or appropriate.

6. Account Registration and Account Security

Certain parts of Ask ADZA may require registration, authentication, or formal authorization. Where an account is required, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information and to keep that information up to date. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity occurring under your account, whether or not such activity was authorized by you. You must notify OpenTrace promptly if you become aware of any unauthorized access, misuse, loss of credentials, or suspected security breach involving your account. OpenTrace is not responsible for losses arising from your failure to secure your account or from unauthorized activity resulting from your negligence, except to the extent required by law.

7. Permitted Use

Ask ADZA may only be used for lawful, authorized, and responsible purposes consistent with the platform’s intended function. Users may access and use the platform to query data, generate analytical outputs, review information, and support internal understanding, planning, research, coordination, monitoring, or institutional decision-making. Use of the platform must at all times respect the integrity of the system, the rights of other users, the rights of OpenTrace, and the rights of any data providers, licensors, or partners whose data or systems are incorporated into Ask ADZA. Access to the platform does not grant unrestricted rights over the system, the data environment, or the outputs generated. All use remains subject to these Terms and any additional access conditions communicated by OpenTrace.

8. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use Ask ADZA in any manner that is unlawful, abusive, misleading, harmful, or inconsistent with the intended use of the platform. This includes, without limitation, attempting to gain unauthorized access to the platform or its underlying systems; reverse engineering, decompiling, copying, or extracting the source code, models, infrastructure, or architecture of the platform; interfering with or disrupting the service; introducing malware or harmful code; circumventing security controls; using automated means to scrape, harvest, or systematically extract content or outputs without authorization; misrepresenting outputs as your own proprietary system; or using the platform in a way that could damage OpenTrace’s systems, reputation, or legal position. You also agree not to use Ask ADZA to generate or support discriminatory, unlawful, exploitative, or harmful decisions; to submit sensitive personal data unless expressly authorized by OpenTrace in writing; or to use the platform to create competing products, benchmark models without permission, or replicate the logic, structure, or output patterns of Ask ADZA. OpenTrace reserves the right to investigate suspected misuse and to suspend or terminate access where prohibited conduct is identified or reasonably suspected.

9. Nature of the Service: Decision Intelligence, Not Advice

Ask ADZA is intended to support data-informed understanding. It is not a substitute for professional, legal, financial, investment, regulatory, agronomic, scientific, policy, medical, or operational advice. Outputs generated by Ask ADZA are intended to provide intelligence, context, comparisons, patterns, and structured analysis based on available data. They are not instructions, recommendations, guarantees, or formal opinions. OpenTrace does not warrant that any output should be relied upon as the sole basis for any decision. You remain solely responsible for interpreting outputs, exercising independent judgment, verifying material assumptions, and determining whether and how any information generated by Ask ADZA should be used in your own context. Where decisions are material, high-risk, regulated, or consequential, users should seek appropriate expert review and not rely exclusively on platform outputs.

10. Data Sources, Data Quality, and Output Limitations

Ask ADZA is built on structured and validated datasets, but no data system is perfect, complete, or static. Data may contain errors, omissions, time lags, inconsistencies, or limitations arising from the source material, the timing of collection, the method of compilation, partner restrictions, geographic gaps, or changes in the external environment. OpenTrace makes reasonable efforts to maintain the integrity, traceability, and usefulness of the system. However, we do not guarantee that all data or outputs will always be complete, current, accurate, uninterrupted, error-free, or fit for a particular purpose. Some outputs may reflect reconstructed, harmonized, modeled, estimated, or otherwise derived data rather than original source data. Where this occurs, OpenTrace may provide context, metadata, confidence indicators, or explanatory notes, but the user remains responsible for understanding the nature and limitations of such outputs. The platform may also depend on third-party datasets or partner-contributed materials. OpenTrace is not responsible for underlying inaccuracies originating from third-party sources, although it may choose to validate, annotate, qualify, or remove such data over time.

11. Beta, Pilot, and Evolving Features

Certain parts of Ask ADZA may be made available in beta, pilot, test, limited release, prototype, or pre-commercial form. Such features may be incomplete, experimental, subject to change, or withdrawn without notice. By using any such feature, you acknowledge that it may contain bugs, limitations, performance issues, design changes, or reduced functionality. OpenTrace provides such features for evaluation, learning, and controlled use, and makes no commitment that any pilot or beta feature will continue, mature into a full offering, or remain compatible with other parts of the platform. Where appropriate, OpenTrace may label features as beta, pilot, test, or otherwise limited. Even where not expressly labeled, the evolving nature of the platform should be understood as part of the Ask ADZA environment.

12. Intellectual Property Rights

All intellectual property rights in and to Ask ADZA, including its software, architecture, design, structure, data pipelines, confidence frameworks, methodologies, interfaces, content, text, graphics, logos, models, workflows, branding, and documentation, are owned by or licensed to OpenTrace and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of any intellectual property to you. Your right to use Ask ADZA is limited to the rights expressly granted under these Terms or under a separate written agreement. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, translate, adapt, publish, display, license, sublicense, sell, commercialize, or create derivative works from any part of Ask ADZA, except as expressly permitted in writing by OpenTrace. Any unauthorized use of OpenTrace’s intellectual property is strictly prohibited and may result in suspension, termination, and legal action.

13. Rights in Outputs

Subject to these Terms and any additional contractual restrictions, users may use outputs generated by Ask ADZA for their internal informational, analytical, planning, or institutional purposes. However, such use does not transfer ownership of the underlying platform, methods, logic, or system design. Where outputs are shared externally, cited publicly, reproduced in reports, incorporated into presentations, or used in public communications, OpenTrace may require attribution, prior notice, or other conditions depending on the nature of access, the type of user, or the applicable license or partnership arrangement. Users may not misrepresent platform-generated outputs as independently created by them, nor may they use outputs to train or improve external AI systems, create competing analytical products, or reproduce Ask ADZA’s service logic without express written authorization. If a separate commercial, institutional, or licensing agreement provides different usage rights for outputs, that agreement will govern.

14. User Content and Submitted Materials

Where you submit information to Ask ADZA, including prompts, queries, feedback, uploaded materials, comments, or other content (“User Content”), you retain any rights you hold in that content, subject to the rights granted below. By submitting User Content through the platform, you grant OpenTrace a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free right to host, store, reproduce, process, transmit, analyze, and use such content to operate, secure, maintain, improve, and support Ask ADZA, consistent with applicable law and the Privacy Policy. You represent and warrant that you have the necessary rights to submit such content and that the content does not infringe any third-party rights, violate any law, or expose OpenTrace to legal or regulatory liability. OpenTrace may remove or restrict User Content where it reasonably believes such content is unlawful, harmful, unauthorized, or inconsistent with these Terms.

15. Feedback

If you provide suggestions, ideas, corrections, recommendations, comments, or other feedback regarding Ask ADZA, you agree that OpenTrace may use that feedback without restriction or obligation to compensate you. This does not reduce any rights you may have in separate confidential materials shared under a specific written agreement, but general platform feedback may be freely used by OpenTrace to improve its products, services, and systems.

16. Data Protection and Privacy

OpenTrace processes personal data in accordance with its Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws. By using Ask ADZA, you acknowledge that personal data may be collected and processed as described in those policies and as necessary to operate the platform. Users are responsible for ensuring that they do not submit personal data, especially sensitive personal data, into the platform unless such submission is expressly permitted and legally justified. If you use Ask ADZA on behalf of an organization, you are responsible for ensuring that your organization’s use of the platform complies with applicable data protection laws, internal policies, and any obligations owed to data subjects. Nothing in these Terms overrides OpenTrace’s separate legal obligations under applicable privacy and data protection laws.

17. Third-Party Services and External Links

Ask ADZA may integrate with, depend upon, or refer to third-party services, tools, infrastructure, data providers, or external links. Such third-party elements are provided for convenience, interoperability, or operational necessity. OpenTrace does not control third-party services and is not responsible for their content, availability, security, accuracy, terms, or privacy practices. Your use of any third-party service may be subject to separate terms and conditions imposed by that third party. The inclusion of a third-party service or link does not imply endorsement, guarantee, or assumption of responsibility by OpenTrace.

18. Service Availability and Maintenance

OpenTrace will use reasonable efforts to maintain the availability and performance of Ask ADZA, but does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service. The platform may be unavailable from time to time due to maintenance, updates, security events, infrastructure issues, partner dependencies, capacity constraints, force majeure events, or other operational factors. OpenTrace reserves the right to suspend or limit access to all or part of the platform where necessary for maintenance, protection of the system, investigation of suspected misuse, or compliance with law. Users acknowledge that service interruptions may occur and that OpenTrace will not be liable for such interruptions except to the extent required by law or expressly agreed in writing.

19. Suspension and Termination

OpenTrace may suspend, restrict, or terminate your access to Ask ADZA at any time, with or without notice, where it reasonably determines that such action is necessary. This may include situations involving breach of these Terms, suspected misuse, security concerns, legal risk, non-payment where applicable, violation of partner conditions, or conduct that threatens the integrity of the system or the rights of others. You may stop using Ask ADZA at any time. Where an account exists, you may request account closure, subject to any data retention obligations or contractual commitments that continue after access ends. Suspension or termination of access does not affect any rights or obligations that by their nature should survive termination, including provisions relating to intellectual property, disclaimers, liability limitations, confidentiality where applicable, dispute resolution, and governing law.

20. Disclaimers

Ask ADZA is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, except where otherwise expressly stated in a separate written agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by law, OpenTrace disclaims all warranties, representations, and guarantees, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, availability, accuracy, reliability, or suitability. OpenTrace does not warrant that the platform will meet all user requirements, that outputs will be complete or error-free, that the service will be uninterrupted, or that all defects will be corrected. Nothing in this section excludes any warranty or right that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable law.

21. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, OpenTrace and its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, contractors, licensors, partners, and service providers shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenues, opportunity, goodwill, data, use, business interruption, or expected savings, arising out of or related to your use of or inability to use Ask ADZA. This limitation applies whether the claim is based in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, statutory duty, or any other legal theory, and whether or not OpenTrace has been advised of the possibility of such damages. To the extent that OpenTrace is found liable for any claim arising under these Terms or in connection with Ask ADZA, OpenTrace’s total aggregate liability shall be limited to the amount paid by you, if any, for access to the relevant service during the twelve months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or, where no such amount has been paid, to a nominal amount to be defined under applicable law. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for fraud, willful misconduct, death or personal injury caused by negligence where such liability cannot be excluded, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

22. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless OpenTrace and its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, contractors, licensors, partners, and service providers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, judgments, fines, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or related to your use of Ask ADZA, your breach of these Terms, your User Content, your misuse of outputs, your violation of applicable law, or your infringement of any third-party rights. This indemnity obligation applies particularly where your actions expose OpenTrace to claims from regulators, data providers, institutional partners, other users, or third parties.

23. Compliance with Laws

You are responsible for ensuring that your use of Ask ADZA complies with all applicable laws, regulations, sanctions regimes, export controls, internal institutional rules, and sector-specific requirements. This is particularly important where Ask ADZA is used in governmental, regulated, public-sector, cross-border, donor-funded, or institutionally sensitive environments. OpenTrace does not guarantee that use of the platform will satisfy all regulatory or internal compliance requirements applicable to your organization or context.

24. Confidentiality

Where OpenTrace makes available any non-public, restricted, confidential, or controlled information through Ask ADZA or related communications, you agree to treat such information as confidential unless it is clearly indicated otherwise or independently becomes public through lawful means. You may not disclose, circulate, or use confidential materials beyond the purpose for which access was granted. If you access Ask ADZA under a separate confidentiality agreement, NDA, pilot agreement, or institutional contract, the confidentiality obligations in that agreement will also apply.

25. Export Controls and Restricted Use

You may not use, access, export, re-export, or transfer Ask ADZA in violation of applicable export control laws, trade sanctions, or other legal restrictions. You represent that you are not located in, acting from, or associated with any jurisdiction, entity, or person subject to applicable prohibitions that would make your access unlawful. OpenTrace reserves the right to block or terminate access where required to comply with sanctions, export laws, or other legal obligations.

26. Changes to the Terms

OpenTrace may revise these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in the platform, the law, its business model, or its operational practices. Updated Terms will become effective when posted, unless a later date is specified. Where changes are material, OpenTrace may take reasonable steps to notify users, but it remains your responsibility to review the Terms periodically. Continued use of Ask ADZA after revised Terms take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

27. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands, unless otherwise required by mandatory applicable law or expressly agreed in a separate written contract. Where mandatory consumer protection laws apply in another jurisdiction, those mandatory rights remain unaffected to the extent required by law.

28. Dispute Resolution

The parties shall seek in good faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms through discussion and informal resolution before commencing formal proceedings. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, it shall be submitted to the competent courts of the Netherlands, unless otherwise required by mandatory law or expressly agreed in a separate written arrangement. Nothing in these Terms prevents OpenTrace from seeking injunctive or other urgent relief in any competent jurisdiction where necessary to protect its intellectual property, systems, confidential information, or legal rights.

29. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the remainder of the Terms shall remain in full force and effect.

30. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any policies or documents expressly incorporated by reference and any applicable written agreements between you and OpenTrace, constitute the entire agreement between you and OpenTrace regarding the use of Ask ADZA. They supersede prior understandings, communications, or representations relating to the same subject matter, except to the extent replaced or supplemented by a separate signed agreement.

31. Contact

Questions regarding these Terms, requests for clarification, or notices relating to the use of Ask ADZA may be directed to OpenTrace through its designated contact channels.

contact@opentrace.africa

Ask ADZA is built to support better decision-making through structured, governed, and trustworthy intelligence. These Terms are intended not only to protect OpenTrace, but also to ensure that the platform is used in a way that is responsible, lawful, and consistent with that purpose. Use of Ask ADZA carries both opportunity and responsibility. By using the platform, you acknowledge and accept both.