First experiences with a novel farmer citizen science approach

What is it about?

We developed a new citizen science approach in which large numbers of farmers test different technological options on their farms. In this new approach, called "triadic comparisons of technologies" or "tricot", farmers receive three different options to evaluate. We created new ways to organize these distributed trials, collect and analyze the data, and report results. The tricot approach was piloted in Central America, East Africa, and South Asia. The article explains the main choices made in designing the approach and some remaining challenges.

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Why is it important?

Citizen science is an important option to develop location-specific responses to global challenges, including climate change. Citizen science can mobilize large numbers of volunteers and connects them using digital tools in order to collective create new knowledge, going above and beyond what scientists can do on their own. But in agriculture, citizen science applications are still sparse. The article describes a new approach that directly generates practical benefits for farmers: better knowledge about new farm technologies.

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