From concept to Fields
CERBERUS began with a bold goal: to redesign how Mediterranean agriculture tackles pest management—mixing cutting-edge technology with local data. While the project framework provided a solid base for development, real progress came when plans met people on the ground.
Over the last two months, we’ve moved from coordination to implementation. Farmers, students, technicians, and local partners across Spain, Italy, and Cyprus have taken their first steps into the world of citizen-led pest monitoring. What we’ve seen confirms a simple truth: involvement fosters insight.
Why Citizen Science, and
Why It Matters
Involving non-professionals in scientific data collection isn’t a new idea, but its potential in agriculture is just beginning to be explored at large scale. Today’s farmers face growing pressure: fewer chemical treatments, more accountability, less margin for error, etc.. Monitoring pests quickly and accurately is essential for such high targets of sustainability and circularity. But high-tech solutions alone won’t close the gap.
CERBERUS embraces a more inclusive model. We work with communities to build routines of observation, pairing simple tools like traps and counting guides with a digital platform that streamlines the reporting process. This approach reinforces trust, generates data in hard-to-reach areas, and keeps people at the heart of innovation.
Rolling Out the Pilots:
One concept, Many Realities
Throughout May and June 2025, CERBERUS launched three tailored pilot programmes.
In Spain, the focus was the olive fly in the Alto Palancia region (Castellón). With the support of regional authorities, cooperatives, and educators, we trained over 20 participants. Each session combined theory and field practice—from pest ID to trap installation to data uploading.
In Italy, our team met growers and wine experts in Rio Saliceto, near Bologna, where the grapevine moth is a serious challenge. Coordinated by UNIBO and SFC, the training blended practical insights with regional expertise, using translated materials to make science more approachable.
Our Cyprus pilot targeted the Mediterranean fruit fly, a major threat to citrus. Held in partnership with ECoE, it gathered participants from across the island. The focus? Adapting protocols and tools to the island’s specific agricultural environment.
While each pilot had its own dynamic, all three shared a consistent structure: hands-on sessions, accessible materials, and a digital platform that connects local monitoring to regional strategy to international connectivity within CERBERUS users.
