SoilSCAN: Soils, Science and Community ActioN

East African farming communities face complex challenges regarding food and feed productivity. Primary production systems are under stress, nutritional choices are changing and the relationship between development and agriculture is undergoing profound transformation. In the face of severe threat of soil erosion, East African agro-pastoral systems are approaching a tipping point and there has never been a greater urgency for evidence-led sustainable land management interventions to reverse degradation of natural resources that support food and water security. A key barrier, however, is a lack of high spatial resolution soil health data wherein collecting such information is beyond conventional research means. We will test if bridging this data gap can be achieved through a coordinated citizen science programme. Accessible and portable technology is currently available in the form of hand-held soil scanners that can enable farmers to become citizen scientists empowered to collect data to establish research data bases that support critical landscape decisions. The aim is to test the potential for using soil scanners as a tool for mapping whole community soil characteristics at a resolution beyond that achievable in conventional research, with the ultimate objective to deliver research that empowers stakeholders to create a sustainable community landscape plan.

In the face of severe threat of soil erosion, East African agro-pastoral systems are close to a tipping point and there has never been a greater urgency for evidence-led sustainable land management interventions to support enhancement of agricultural food production and reverse the degradation of natural resources that support food and water security. The interdisciplinary nature of our work aligns with broad UKRI strategy with specific relevance to the Strategic Priorities Fund "Landscape Decisions". We seek to co-design and trial a citizen science approach that overcomes barriers to crowd-sourcing soil health data and further to counter risk of potentially negative association between SMART agricultural technology and 'Western' donor cultures Decisions" programme. The aim is to test the potential for using soil scanners as a tool for mapping soil characteristics at a resolution beyond that achievable in conventional research, with the ultimate objective to empower stakeholders to create a sustainable land-use plan for the community.

Objectives are:
(1) to introduce the AgriCares soil scanner and its associated app to the community, assess initial perceptions and understandings of its potential utility, and together co-design a short citizen science evaluation programme to enable different sectors of the community to 'have a go' with the technology within the context of the broader research project aims.
(2) to develop and trial citizen science protocols for community diagnosis of soil health in terms of nutrient status and stability (using organic matter as a proxy), at high spatial resolution, guided by erosion risk frameworks from prior research
(3) conceptualise the next steps for upscaling the pilot study. Further, it will evaluate the inclusion of 'big data' digital data training and sharing platforms and their utility in creating more robust and better research-informed collective decision-making.

Through a proven process of participatory design [co-design] our impact plan will take a nexus approach across established principles of good agricultural practice and integrated resource management paradigms supported by soil status data. Working with a typical community of northern Tanzanian agro-environmental and pastoral value chains, our pilot citizen science programme will enhance existing research evidence into a locally-tailored policy platform and via correlation of soil health to land management practice it will elucidate (1) best practice farming and crop variety options to increase organic matter and hence soil resilience and enhance productivity and (2) facilitate the co-design of specific locally-adapted pathways to implementation for end-users. Work is necessarily aligned with UNFAO's 5 pillars of action for Global Soil Partnership, wider UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the COP 21 Paris Agreement.

Key to our holistic and interdisciplinary approach is 'know-how', which is strongly associated with 'know why'. Understanding unique aspects of each of the socio-economic and cultural contexts in which we will work is critical to delivering real and lasting change from the scientific evidence bases. Our integrated approach means we can clarify and demonstrate the specific benefit accruing to each context as a direct result of our collaborative and participatory work. Given this, the impact delivery strategy will be co-designed and implemented with four key stakeholder groups: (1) individuals of all gender identities who rely on soil resources (land and water) for livelihood their families and their local communities; (2) extension workers and development practitioners in NGO organisations (e.g. ECHO, Rikolto); (3) regional and national policy organisations (e.g. District Council partners); and (4) international organisations and donors (e.g. UN FAO and World Bank with whom the team is closely connected via current projects/networks). The delivery engine for the impact plan is the 'participatory evidence into action' approach, i.e. impact through community-led action steered by research data. This will be enhanced greatly by this Citizen Science programme with active involvement of the local people in critical data generation on soil status.