SHOWCASE has just released a new factsheet titled “Farmland Biodiversity Monitoring Through Citizen Science", underscoring how farmers and local communities can play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity while maintaining productive and sustainable agriculture. The factsheet is based on a SHOWCASE paper, authored by partners Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Reading and the Dutch Butterfly Conservation.

According to the factsheet, citizen science, which is the active involvement of farmers, volunteers and the wider public in data collection and biodiversity monitoring, offers significant advantages. It can generate large volumes of ecological data at low cost, boost public awareness and strengthen engagement between science and society.

Biodiversity underpins essential ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, soil health, and climate resilience, all of which are critical for sustainable food production. Yet, farmland biodiversity remains under threat, and agricultural landscapes are often underrepresented in large-scale monitoring efforts.

Citizen science offers a hopeful path forward. By combining local knowledge with modern apps and monitoring tools, these initiatives can generate vast amounts of valuable data while deepening people’s connection to the landscapes they care for. The approach is cost-effective, engaging and empowers farmers to become active stewards of their environment.

A global review of 106 citizen science programmes conducted by SHOWCASE highlights both the potential and the gaps. Many large-scale monitoring schemes overlook farmland, while smaller, farmer-led efforts often struggle to scale up or influence policy.

To improve future monitoring efforts, SHOWCASE recommends co-creating programmes with farmers, providing timely feedback to participants. 

Read more about the global review here.