Summary
This 2021 systematic review examines the intersection of citizen science and sustainable agriculture, synthesising how participatory monitoring and public engagement models contribute to sustainability outcomes and agricultural policy. The authors identify citizen science as a potentially valuable but under-formalised mechanism for agricultural monitoring and governance, though the review suggests that detailed efficacy metrics and standardised best-practice frameworks remain underdeveloped in the literature. The work highlights both the promise and the evidence gaps in using participatory approaches to support agricultural sustainability.
Regional applicability
The findings are globally applicable given the international scope of the review. United Kingdom agricultural policy and monitoring frameworks could potentially benefit from the review's identification of citizen science opportunities, particularly for grassland and soil health monitoring, though local adaptation of any frameworks would be necessary to align with existing UK schemes (e.g. Environmental Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship) and regulatory structures.
Key measures
Frequency and characteristics of citizen science interventions in agriculture; reported sustainability outcomes; policy integration; monitoring methodologies; efficacy metrics and best-practice frameworks identified or absent from literature
Outcomes reported
The systematic review synthesises evidence on how citizen science and participatory monitoring contribute to sustainable agriculture outcomes and policy implementation. It examines the role of public engagement models in agricultural sustainability monitoring and identifies gaps in efficacy metrics and standardised frameworks.
Topic tags
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