The European project ToNoWaste has reached a new milestone in its commitment to preventing and reducing food waste. The training and awareness-raising activities carried out by the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) team in public educational centres have been approved and included in the Citizen Science Observatory, a reference platform that collects, promotes and gives visibility to citizen science initiatives developed in Spain and in Spanish.
The initiative can now be accessed through the following link: https://ciencia-ciudadana.es/project/409
This recognition highlights the work carried out within ToNoWaste to bring research closer to society and encourage the active participation of citizens, particularly within the educational community. Through these activities, students and participating schools engage in initiatives aimed at better understanding the issue of food waste, reflecting on its causes and consequences, and contributing to the search for more sustainable solutions.
The Citizen Science Observatory, managed by the Ibercivis Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain, is a collaborative digital platform that enables users to discover citizen science projects across different areas of knowledge, share educational and methodological resources, connect with the scientific and citizen science community, participate in events and activities, and contribute to the generation of scientific knowledge.
Citizen science is based on the active participation of citizens in scientific research activities. Participants may contribute in different ways: collecting data, analysing information, solving problems or even co-creating research together with scientific teams. In this way, citizen science democratises research, promotes scientific education and generates valuable knowledge for both science and society.
In this context, the activities promoted by ToNoWaste in public educational centres are a clear example of how citizens can become actively involved in research and social transformation. By engaging students in the prevention and reduction of food waste, the project not only raises awareness of an environmental, economic and social challenge of great relevance, but also fosters a culture of participation, responsibility and sustainability from an early age.
The inclusion of these activities in the Citizen Science Observatory reinforces ToNoWaste’s role as a European project committed to social innovation, education and citizen participation in order to move towards more sustainable food systems with less waste.