Teagasc and VistaMilk Research Ireland centre have launched GroundTruth, an innovative citizen science project, facilitated by Research Ireland.

The project, which is co-funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Department of Education, aims to improve soil literacy and engage communities across Ireland in research.

Healthy soils are crucial to addressing global challenges such as food security, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental health, and the GroundTruth project will contribute to international efforts to safeguard soils.

GroundTruth will collaborate with secondary-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.

Professor Donagh Berry, Director of VistaMilk Research Ireland centre said; “GroundTruth’s interactive activities, engaging demonstrations, and informative talks align seamlessly with VistaMilk’s mission to advance STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths) education and inspire curiosity, particularly among young people”.

Why GroundTruth Matters:

A recent report on soil health education in Ireland highlighted the need for more practical-based and hands-on outdoor learning experiences across all levels of education in Ireland in relation to soil health. GroundTruth has been specifically designed to address some of these issues by promoting outdoor learning where citizens are involved in the collection of data, gaining practical skills to monitor and improve soil health in their local area.

The results will be shared through educational networks supporting sustainable soil management strategies across the country. By uniting citizens, researchers, and educators, GroundTruth will create a scalable model for public engagement and environmental stewardship.

GroundTruth will provide a user-friendly resource pack equipping participants with tools and knowledge to collect soil health data and measure aboveground biodiversity. We will also run a dedicated soil health week featuring a series of engaging webinars, a media campaign to raise awareness and various on-farm workshops across the country, providing hands-on learning experiences and showcasing best practices in soil health management.

Participants will have the opportunity to contribute valuable data, which will be analysed by biodiversity experts at Teagasc and VistaMilk. This data will not only inform future soil health initiatives, but also be shared with contributors in a conference, open to all participants. Key findings will also be submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre repository, reinforcing Ireland’s environmental health initiatives.

Dr Fiona Brennan, project lead and soil biologist with Teagasc, stated; “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 Karen Daly, Head of the Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Department at Teagasc, said; “The team at Teagasc are delighted to involve the wider public in our research and understanding of soils.”

Welcoming the project, Celine Fitzgerald, Interim CEO, Research Ireland, commented: “The Research Ireland Discover Programme is a cornerstone of our education and public engagement strategy. We are delighted to be supporting the GroundTruth project, and we look forward to seeing it strengthen STEM engagement across Ireland and encourage more inclusive participation in shaping the future of science and innovation in Ireland.”

Get Involved
Teagasc is currently accepting expressions of interest from secondary-level schools, farmers, and community members who might be interested in getting involved in GroundTruth. To learn more visit https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/soil/soil-health/ground-truth/ or contact groundtruth@teagasc.ie.

Join us in protecting Ireland’s soil health and contributing to a sustainable future for all.