This independent side event of the UN Food Systems Summit launches a new citizen science initiative reaching out to farmers and food consumers around the world to take part in advancing knowledge that can accelerate agroecological transitions. Examples of citizen science approach used in agroecology and related domains will be showcased followed by a discussion of what can be learnt about how to make citizen science inclusive and effective. The event will examine critiques of the use of big data in agri-food systems transformation and explore how to ensure that this initiative will increase the agency of smallholder farmers and farmworkers, women, indigenous peoples and food consumers from all backgrounds. Finally, an interactive session to gather ideas and views from session participants on their priorities for what the initiative should focus on will be held. A series of national and regional events will follow to consolidate the focus of the initiative and then put citizen science into action in support of agroecological transitions.

Agreed on by the Advisory Board of the Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecology (TPP), the webinar will provide the audience with an opportunity to help democratically shape and identify priority topics to be addressed in the initiative’s implementation phase.