Using citizen science to explore plant breeding and investigate food-chain transparency for novel breeding methods

Post Brexit, the UK signalled its intention to diverge from some EU laws relevant to breeding, particularly using biotechnology to improve environmental sustainability and stimulate innovation in these technologies (DEFRA, 2021a). Therefore, DEFRA recently conducted a public consultation exercise on the use of gene editing for crop and livestock breeding to ensure an improved food system that provides abundant, healthy, and sustainable food (DEFRA, 2021b). Research has indeed shown that (1) the implementation and continued use of novel food technologies depend on public acceptance of the technology, and that (2) successful implementations require participatory approaches fostering 'science-in-society' relationships (Bearth and Siegrist, 2016; Bonney et al., 2016).

In line with these findings, we will apply a citizen science approach that requires active involvement of volunteers in research. This will be both contributory and collaborative for improving the knowledge of citizen participants on plant breeding and novel breeding methods and supporting the successful integration of these methods into the food chain.

Our project aims to address the FSA research theme on novel foods within priority area on future of food systems. The main work packages that make up the project are as follows:

WP1 Data Collection Exercise aims to improve participants' knowledge on plant breeding and novel breeding methods, and to understand their expectations and needs regarding a transparent food system that involves gene editing applications.
Citizen scientists will first be asked to complete a short survey (pre-test) regarding their risk/benefit perceptions, trust, and knowledge with respect to plant breeding and breeding methods to assess their progress at the end of the project.
The data collection exercise will encourage citizen participants to find whether the variety is named on food packaging, and if so to search it on the web. This exercise will help the participants improve their knowledge about the food they eat, breeding history, whether it is cultivated in the UK. The participants will subsequently complete a 5-min online survey each time, consisting of questions about the information they have collected, and any additional information they may want to receive in an ideal, fully transparent food system

WP2 Online Platform for Training and Interaction aims to involve citizen scientists in an interactive training and discussion platform. For this purpose, a Microsoft Teams platform will be created for the participants and project team. WP2 will encourage citizen scientists to interact with the team and with each other to share their experiences, questions, and suggestions regarding the data collection exercise and recordings on the online platform, as well as broaden their knowledge on plant breeding and novel methods.

WP3 Evaluation aims to evaluate the outcomes of previous WP's with citizen participants through a post-test survey and focus groups. The goal of this collaborative effort is to explore whether participants' knowledge on plant breeding and novel methods has improved, whether/how this improvement has affected their prior beliefs about plant breeding and novel methods, and also to get their input on how to ensure a transparent food system involving successful integration of novel breeding methods.

Following WP3, a final project team meeting will be held to share the outcomes of the project with the project partners (i.e., DEFRA, British Society of Plant Breeders) to broaden their understanding of a transparent food system in the context of novel breeding methods, and discuss with them how successful integration of novel breeding methods can be integrated to a transparent food system.

*Please note that a reference list including all the references cited in this section and the following sections has been provided as attachment to this application.

Due to UK's intention to diverge from some EU laws relevant to breeding, DEFRA recently conducted a public consultation exercise on the use of gene editing for breeding. Research indeed shows that (1) consumers do not know many aspects of plant breeding, which may lead to confusion and unwarranted skepticism among consumers regarding gene editing (Sutherland et al., 2020), (2) the successful implementation of novel food technologies depend on public acceptance (Bearth & Siegrist, 2016), and (3) successful implementations require participatory approaches (Bonney et al., 2016). Therefore, there is a need for research on novel foods and their impact on society, in particular on improving knowledge on plant breeding and support the successful integration of gene editing to the food-chain through participatory and transparent approaches.
For this pilot project we will recruit 100 adult volunteers from a range of backgrounds and identities through advertisements via social media platforms of the Leeds and Aberystwyth University's Communications Teams that would reach to alumni networks, university staff with professional roles, and beyond. To leverage the involvement of a broader range of non-academic volunteers, academic (research/teaching) staff and university students will not be recruited as citizen scientists. In addition, to ensure the diversity and inclusion from a range of backgrounds and identities, particularly those from groups and communities who are under-represented (e.g., BAME groups), we will also work with representative staff networks to identify the most suitable organisations to recruit from these groups. In line with the literature findings about the impact of advertisements on citizen scientists' retention throughout the project (West & Pateman, 2016), we will make clear in our advertisement what the project is about and what tasks are expected from citizen scientists, and encourage those who are highly interested in plant breeding, to apply.