requirements are also present in the rules on the EU Ecolabel. The Commission is now planning a number of initiatives to improve repairability of products, including legislation on the right to repair, on empowering consumers for the green transition, a sustainable products initiative, design requirements for electronics, and measures making the broader economic context more favourable to repair." The United Kingdom has similarly adopted right-to-repair policies designed to benefit end consumers and reduce the environmental costs wrought by unnecessary disposal of what could otherwise be working technologies. EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER POLICIES In the agricultural sector, equipment manufacturers have traditionally pushed back against some aspects of the right-to-repair movement, primarily because of the issues referenced at the beginning of this article. Legal challenges have risen, too. John Deere, for example, is currently facing a class-action lawsuit in Illinois over its alleged violations of antitrust laws. There are indications some OEMs are looking to align aspects of their repair policies with the needs and wants of their customers. John Deere has announced it will be enhancing the capabilities of existing diagnostic tools and expanding their availability. A press release published on March 21, 2022, says the company will "roll out an enhanced customer solution" in 2023. This will include a mobile device interface and the ability to download secure software updates directly to embedded controllers on select John Deere equipment with 4G connections. The press release adds the company will, as of May 2022, expand its offerings by giving customers and independent repair shops in the U.S. the ability to purchase Customer Service ADVISOR directly through JohnDeereStore.com. Luke Gakstatter, senior vice president for aftermarket and customer support, says, "customers with connectivity already receive proactive maintenance through over-theair software updates and diagnostic code information available to their smartphone. The next step for us to digitize and enhance the repairability experience is to enable customers themselves to remotely download secure software updates to controllers." l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 21 JUNE/JULY 2022 In the agriculture sector, the issue revolves around a person's ability to fix equipment when breakdowns occur, either by themselves or by those not certified by the original manufacturer.
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