Photo Contest
Join our Photo Contest to discover the “cousin” plants of our crops!
Participation in the first edition of the Cousin Photo Contest represents a unique educational opportunity for secondary schools and students . It is, in fact, a moment of interdisciplinary education, ranging from science to civic education, from ecology to sustainable development and food sovereignty.
What is Cousin?
Cousin is a project inaugurated on January 1, 2024, and aimed at the use and conservation of Crop Wild Relatives, the wild relatives of cultivated plants. The goal is to raise awareness and take action to promote more sustainable agriculture.
The initiative is funded by Horizon Europe, coordinated by the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, and finds the collaboration of entities and professionals from twelve European countries.
The Citizen Science activity designed for schools complements studies and research in the field.
Crop Wild Relatives
Globally, we are facing a major environmental problem related to the loss of agricultural biodiversity, with many plant species disappearing. Today, 75 percent of our food is produced from only 12 cultivated species, and this poses a great risk. Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs), “wild cousins” of the most common domestic crops, are essential species for improving crop resistance to climate change, pests and diseases. CWRs contribute to global food security. Using and protecting these species means safeguarding vital resources for the future of agriculture and food.
The CWRs symbolized by the Cousin project are: wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley
(Hordeum vulgare), pea (Pisum sativum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and Brassica
(Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus).
Citizen Science
Citizen science is “science that is accomplished with the contribution of citizens.” It involves volunteer people in the collection and analysis of scientific data. When applied to schools, it offers engaging and hands-on learning experiences. In fact, by participating in the Cousin Photo Contest, students will experience participatory science firsthand.
Why participate in the photo contest?
- Practical experience: field research activities and data comparison in cooperation with experts;
- Personal growth: through cooperation among students and with experts and positive competition on environmental issues;
- Education and awareness raising: through understanding the importance of biodiversity and sustainability.
What is iNaturalist?
iNaturalist is an online platform for recording nature observations. Users, once registered, can upload photographs of plants, animals and other organisms, helping to build a global biodiversity database.
Schools and classes, together with teachers and with the support of experts, will use this app to document Crop Wild Relatives found during hands-on field trips.
How does it work?
- Take a picture: During field trips, photograph all CWRs you find in the wild;
- Upload image: use the iNaturalist app to upload photos (you’ll see, it’s very simple!);
- Share and identify: scientific community and all other registered users will help you identify individual species.
At the Cousin Photo Contest, the photos collected during the activity by the various participating classes will be organized within a project created ad hoc on the platform, so that all observations can be united and catalogued, and always have them at hand.
In particular, the information obtained will be part of a larger umbrella project, so that statistics can be compared between two or more classes and between all participating schools. At the end of the photo contest, in fact, the photos will be evaluated by a jury and awarded prizes during the “72 Hours of Biodiversity” festival, organized by Rete Semi Rurali, one of the Italian partners in the project .
Timing of the photo contest
Winter – Spring 2025: theoretical training.
The first part of the photo contest will feature two lectures of two hours each, in class, with the help of experts from the Cousin project on CWR knowledge. The production of a floristic map of the area will be followed by a discussion on how to work in the field and the basics of proper use of the iNaturalist app;
Spring – Summer 2025: photo collection outings.
Data collection will follow the flowering period of CWRs. Starting in the Spring and continuing in the Summer, exploratory outings will be organized in the area surrounding the school to identify and photograph the target species of the project. These outings will be done independently by the children/youths after receiving guidance on where the species are found and how to recognize them. An outing may instead be done with the accompaniment of a guide, subject to agreement with the school. The photos, selected and collected, will be uploaded to the app by the teacher.
End of May 2026: Award ceremony.
The photos awarded by the jury (composed of project partners such as Rural Seeds Network and formicablu) will be honored in a ceremony, during the “72 Hours of Biodiversity” festival, annually organized by RSR. The winners will receive a special prize, and all classes will be given a certificate of participation. Prizes will be presented beyond the opportunity to take part in the award ceremony.