This project explores the current state of farmland-based citizen science initiatives across England, with a focus on involving farmers in environmental data collection. The study is motivated by the growing need to monitor biodiversity, evaluate agri-environmental interventions, and support sustainable agriculture, driven by policy changes and technological advancements. The project aims to identify existing initiatives, gaps, and opportunities to enhance farmer participation in citizen science.
The research was conducted through three primary activities: a rapid review of the scientific literature, an online survey, and a participatory workshop with key stakeholders. The literature review highlighted the limited focus of current citizen science on agriculture, with most activities centred on general biodiversity monitoring. The online survey, which garnered 37 responses, revealed that farmer involvement varies, with some actively collecting data and others merely providing land access. Key findings suggest that while there is a recognized value in farmer participation, barriers such as time constraints and trust in data collection methods persist. The participatory workshop further emphasized the need for sustained funding, better communication between citizen science and farming communities, and the development of technology to facilitate data collection and processing.
This project identifies opportunities to add value to existing citizen science initiatives, share farm-scale data for broader impact, and build capacity to support greater farmer involvement. Research gaps include understanding the link between farmer engagement and environmental outcomes, and exploring farmer motivations in citizen science participation.