Cultivating Impact: INCREASE Showcases Citizen Science Results
The INCREASE project will host a final event on 20 April 2026 in Brussels, bringing together researchers, policymakers and key stakeholders to explore how citizen science can shape the future of agrobiodiversity conservation in Europe.
Held at the Schuman area in the heart of the EU quarter, the event titled “Citizen Science and the Decentralised Conservation of Agrobiodiversity – From Experiment to Structural Innovation in Europe” will highlight the achievements and policy relevance of the INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment. Participation is free of charge, with registration open until 10 April 2026.
Over the past years, the INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment has mobilised tens of thousands of citizens across Europe to actively contribute to the conservation and characterisation of plant genetic resources, particularly traditional bean varieties. By combining participatory research with digital tools, the initiative has demonstrated how decentralised approaches can enhance biodiversity, strengthen community engagement and generate valuable scientific data.
The final event will present key results from the experiment, including insights into its design, scale and scientific impact. Discussions will also address how citizen-generated data can inform research and policymaking, as well as how such approaches can be integrated into European research and innovation frameworks.
The programme features a high-level plenary session, technical presentations, and a dedicated policy panel on scaling decentralised conservation in Europe. Stakeholder perspectives and citizen voices will further illustrate how participatory approaches are already being implemented in practice and how they can be expanded in the future.
The event will conclude with key messages for EU agriculture and innovation policy, outlining pathways to embed citizen science into long-term strategies for sustainable food systems and genetic resource conservation.
An optional afternoon visit to the Meise Botanic Garden will provide participants with an opportunity to connect discussions with real-world conservation practices.
More information and the registration link are available here.
