SoilTribes at ECSA 2026: Cultivating Knowledge Together Through Citizen Science and Participatory Agricultural Practices
On Thursday, 05 March 2026, SoilTribes was presented during the panel discussion “Cultivating Knowledge Together: Removing Barriers in Participatory Agricultural Practices”, held as part of the ECSA 2026 – European Citizen Science Association Conference at the University of Oulu in Oulu, Finland.
The session brought together 50 participants, including academics, NGOs, and representatives of other EU-funded projects, to discuss how citizen science can support participatory agricultural practices in the agri-food sector.
This positioned the project within broader conversations on citizen participation, farmer engagement, soil testing, and collaborative knowledge production.
Citizen science as a bridge between knowledge and action
The panel focused on the role of citizen science in the agri-food sector, with particular attention to how citizens and farmers can be involved in participatory research activities. Rather than keeping knowledge within expert circles, participatory approaches open the process. They allow citizens, farmers, local communities, researchers, and organizations to contribute to observation, testing, learning, and action.
A panel rooted in participation
The ECSA 2026 panel created a platform for exchange among projects working on citizen science, agricultural practices, food systems, and environmental engagement. Several EU-funded projects were presented through symbolic objects, each helping make their work more tangible and accessible to the audience.
The projects were represented in a creative format, represented by objects. Each object opened a pathway into a larger conversation about participation, evidence, food systems, and environmental action.
PataFEST, represented by a potato, shared its citizen engagement activities in Berlin. FOSTER, represented by a magnet sphere, presented collaborative approaches to strengthen food-oriented Knowledge and Innovation Systems. SoilTribes, represented by a spoon, introduced a soil testing initiative for citizens. CERBERUS, presented by Science for Change and represented by a pest trap, focused on pest control through data collected from farmers, the general public, and educational centers.
SoilTribes and citizen-led soil testing
SoilTribes’ contribution to the panel introduced a soil testing initiative for citizens. Soil testing is a direct and practical way to bring people closer to soil. It can help citizens observe, question, and better understand the ground beneath them.
Removing barriers in participatory agricultural practices
One of the central themes of the session was the need to remove barriers that limit participation in agricultural and agri-food research. Participatory practices require more than good intentions. They need trust, accessible methods, clear communication, and support structures that allow citizens and farmers to engage meaningfully. The panel also addressed the funding opportunities that can support these approaches, opening discussion on how projects and organizations can sustain participatory work over time.
Presenting the SoilTribes project at the ECSA 2026 Conference supported its visibility among academics, NGOs, and representatives of EU-funded projects. It also helped share SoilTribes’ approach to soil literacy with stakeholders already engaged in citizen science and participatory innovation.
