INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment kicks off in 2025 with more than 5,000 participants
The fifth round of the INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment (CSE) has officially closed its registration phase, marking another successful year of participation from across Europe, with an impressive total of 5,469 registrations.
Among the total registrations, 4,872 new participants have joined the experiment, representing 34 different countries. 596 participants are continuing from previous rounds, demonstrating the sustained enthusiasm and commitment for enhancing agrobiodiversity in Europe and beyond. However, it is important to mention here that all participants from rounds 2021-2024 can take part in the experiment again in 2025, even if they have not explicitly registered. The INCREASE team therefore expects a significantly higher number of participants from previous rounds to take part.
Germany has taken the lead in terms of participation numbers this year (1,653 participants), followed by Italy (1,206 participants) and France (428 participants) and Poland (415 participants). The remaining top 10 countries, listed in descending order, include Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, Austria, Belgium, and Portugal.
A particularly exciting aspect of this year’s experiment is the strong involvement of schools: A total of 283 schools from 13 different countries have signed up to participate. Italy leads in school registrations, followed by Germany and Spain, showcasing a strong commitment to fostering scientific curiosity among students.
The newly registered participants will soon receive an email regarding their activation for the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA). Once the SMTA has been signed, the INCREASE team in Ancona, Italy will send the bean seeds by post.
The participants from previous CSE rounds can either grown their old bean varieties or exchange seeds with others in the INCREASE seed exchange. In both ways you support the INCREASE decentralised conservation approach.
The INCREASE CSE team would like to thank all the participants and everyone who helped spread the word about the experiment for their commitment and support! We look forward to starting the bean journey 2025 with you!
Further information for participants of the INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment can be found here:
- CSE step-by-step guide
- Overview of traits to collect in the different CSE participation levels
- List of CSE bean varieties
- Tutorials and instructions for executing the experiment
- Guide to taking photos for the INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Connecting with other participants
Map of newly registered participants
Map of continuing participants from previous CSE rounds