For the first time, the document defines a harmonized methodological framework that enables the systematic involvement of farmers, students, advisory services, and local communities in data-driven agricultural research. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies—such as Internet of Things systems, remote sensing, sensor technology, and AI applications—in European agriculture, where implementation has been limited to date.
The protocol is aligned with the strategic objectives of the European Green Deal, the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, and the European Digital Agenda. The focus is on overcoming existing barriers to the adoption of digital tools, including a lack of transparency in data use, regulatory uncertainties, and low acceptance in agricultural practice.
The framework developed covers the entire lifecycle of citizen science processes—from governance and co-creation structures, through data collection and validation, to data management and long-term institutional embedding. Standardized metadata models, multi-stage quality assurance procedures, and alignment with FAIR data principles as well as the European Open Science Cloud are intended to ensure scientific interoperability and reusability.
Among those involved in developing the protocol are the Agricultural University of Athens and the University of Novi Sad. The participating universities will increasingly integrate citizen science approaches into curricula, research programs, and practice-oriented training formats in the future. The protocol is considered a scalable model for linking research, education, and agricultural practice and is intended to contribute in the long term to the climate-resilient and data-driven transformation of European agricultural systems.
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