Teagasc seeks farmers for 'citizen science project' on soil
Teagasc and the VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre are seeking farmers and other participants for a "citizen science project" on soil health.
The project, called 'GroundTruth' is facilitated by Research Ireland and co-funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Education.
The aim of the project, according to Teagasc, is to improve soil "literacy" and to engage communities in research.
Teagasc is currently accepting expressions of interest from secondary schools, farmers, and community members.
The agriculture education and advisory body said that healthy soils are "crucial" to addressing issues such as food security, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental health.
According to Teagasc, the new project will contribute to "international efforts to safeguard soils".
The project will see collaboration between second-level students, farmers, researchers, and community members to establish a "baseline for Irish soil health".
"By empowering participants to assess and protect their local soils, the project aims to enhance public understanding of soil health's vital role in sustaining ecosystems and communities," Teagasc said.
A recent report on soil health education in Ireland suggested that there is a need for more practical outdoor learning experiences across all levels of education in Ireland in relation to soil health.
GroundTruth has been designed to address some of these issues by promoting outdoor learning where citizens are involved in the collection of data. The results will be shared through educational networks across the country.
"By uniting citizens, researchers, and educators, GroundTruth will create a scalable model for public engagement and environmental stewardship," Teagasc said.
Participants in the project will be provided with a "resource pack" equipping participants with tools and knowledge to collect soil health data and measure 'aboveground' biodiversity.
A dedicated soil health week, a media campaign to raise awareness, and various on-farm workshops across the country are also planned.
Participants will have the opportunity to contribute data, which will be analysed by biodiversity experts at Teagasc and VistaMilk. This data will inform future soil health initiatives, and will be shared with contributors in a conference, open to all participants.
Key findings will also be submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre repository.
Dr. Fiona Brennan, project lead and soil biologist with Teagasc, commented: "In recent years, there has been a significant rise in demand for events, resources, advice and practical tools related to soil health.
"We are excited to address these needs through the GroundTruth project. We’ve never asked so much from our soils as we do today, and with changing climatic patterns, the importance of safeguarding our soil health continues to grow.
"Everyone can play a part in ensuring our soils remain healthy. This citizen science project invites everyone to help monitor and sustainably manage our soils," Dr. Brennan added.
Dr. Karen Daly, head of the environment, soils and land use research department at Teagasc, commented: “The team at Teagasc are delighted to involve the wider public in our research and understanding of soils.”
