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Short Abstract

CERBERUS and SPOON show the flexibility of citizen science to generate robust data across agri-food contexts, from rural production to urban consumption, using structured citizen science protocols or co-designed Living Lab methods to foster sustainable, evidence-based food systems.

Abstract

CERBERUS and SPOON demonstrate the versatility of citizen science as a driver of innovation within the agri-food system, each addressing different stages of the food chain through distinct methodologies. Yet, both projects place citizens at the core of knowledge creation through co-design, technological tools, and active participation.

In CERBERUS, citizen science is applied to agricultural production through a structured data collection protocol that merges technical requirements (rigour, consistency, and systematicity) with social requirements (engagement, learning, and enjoyment). Citizens monitor pest traps across Mediterranean crops, contributing high-quality data validated by professional entomologists. This approach ensures both scientific reliability and community empowerment, demonstrating how structured citizen engagement can complement advanced monitoring technologies. CERBERUS is implemented mainly in rural areas of Spain, Italy, and Cyprus.

In SPOON, the integration of Citizen Science and Living Labs places citizens simultaneously in the roles of researchers and participants. Through co-designed digital tools and participatory workshops, they contribute behavioural data on food consumption patterns and help shape Behaviour Change Interventions (BCIs), which are assessed using Living Lab methodologies to gather evidence that informs European food policies while respecting local diversity. SPOON is implemented primarily in urban contexts across Spain, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Italy, and Belgium.

Together, CERBERUS and SPOON illustrate how citizen science can be flexibly adapted—from structured protocols to open co-creation methodologies—to engage diverse actors, contexts, and levels of participation. Both projects highlight the potential of citizen-led research to build inclusive, sustainable, and evidence-based food systems across Europe.