Registration for the new round of the CSE will be open from 30th of October 2025!
)
Calling all pulse enthusiasts, hobby gardeners and curious citizen scientists! Registration for the next round of the INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment opens on 30 October 2025 via the dedicated INCREASE CSA app - inviting everyone to take part in this unique scientific adventure.
Over the past five years, the INCREASE project has inspired tremendous engagement from citizens eager to contribute to agricultural research. The Citizen Science Experiment has even received the European Union Prize for Citizen Sciencerecognising its innovative approach to fostering agrobiodiversity by encouraging Europeans to conserve and characterise diverse bean varieties
A Thriving Community of Citizen Scientists
So far, more than 25,000 citizens across Europe have joined the experiment. Together, they have cultivated hundreds of traditional bean varieties, gathered valuable scientific data and grown a vibrant community committed to creating a more sustainable and resilient food system – one bean at a time.
How to Take Part
The experiment welcomes anyone interested in contributing to science – all you need is a smartphone, a garden, terrace, balcony or field, and the motivation to grow six different varieties of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) during the upcoming growing season.
Each new participant will receive seeds of diverse, traditional bean varieties to grow and observe. Using the INCREASE CSA app, participants document plant development, upload photos and record traits, helping the INCREASE research team to study and preserve genetic diversity in Europe’s bean crops.
About the App
The INCREASE CSA app is free to download on all major platforms and available in multiple languages. Citizens can register directly through the app and use it throughout the growing season to log their observations and experiences.
About INCREASE
The Citizen Science Experiment is part of the European research project INCREASE, which brings together 23 international partners to promote agrobiodiversity and encourage the consumption and cultivation of food legumes across Europe. Guided by the European Commission’s principles of open science, open innovation, and openness to the world, INCREASE harnesses digital tools to make research more collaborative and inclusive.
To learn more, visit the INCREASE website explore explanatory videos and follow INCREASE on social media for the latest updates and stories from the bean-growing community.
INCREASE officially receives the European Union Prize for Citizen Science 2024 at the Ars Electronica Festival
It had been announced in June 2024 that INCREASE is the winner of the EU Prize for Citizen Science 2024. During the Ars Electronica Festival that took place in Linz, Austria from 4th – 8th of September, the INCREASE team has now had the great honour and pleasure to officially receive the highly anticipated prize.
) | ) |
) | ) |
The Ars Electronica Festival, held annually, stands as an international event where science, technology, art, and ecology converge. This year's festival, themed "HOPE: Who Will Turn the Tide?", invited people from around the world to engage in interactive experiences and explore innovative ideas. On 5th of September 2024, at the Design Center Linz, the festival's prestigious award ceremony took place, where 13 esteemed prizes were presented, including the EU Prize for Citizen Science.
The EU Prize for Citizens Science rewards “outstanding citizen science initiatives that enact change, expand knowledge, and address social, political, cultural, and environmental challenges through the involvement of citizens” (European Commission).
Over the last four years, the INCREASE project has been incredibly successful in engaging citizens in its Citizen Science Experiment, one of the central pillars of its research. The project aims to foster agrobiodiversity by inviting European citizens to actively conserve and characterise diverse bean varieties through a specially designed app. The dedication and engagement of people across Europe has been overwhelming with more than 16,000 dedicated citizens participating since its inception. And the journey continues.
Through the EU Prize for Citizen Science INCREASE has been acknowledged for its outstanding achievements in advancing knowledge on seed preservation through the empowerment of civil society and citizens, in particular from rural areas.
While the project promotes agrobiodiversity and raises awareness of nutrition and environmental sustainability issues, the INCREASE Coordiantor Prof. Roberto Papa highlights also its social impact: “The INCREASE Citizen Science Experiment receives a high interest from different groups such as schools and urban gardening communities and we are incredibly happy to see how our project is uniting people around a common cause”.
INCREASE was represented at the Ars Electronica festival with an interactive exhibition. The visitors were invited to characterise beans, giving them a chance to get a taste of participating in the Citizen Science Experiment. Registration for the next round of the experiment will open in November.