Crowdsourcing for agricultural applications: A review of uses and opportunities for a farmsourcing approach

Crowdsourcing, understood as outsourcing tasks or data collection by a large group of non-professionals, is increasingly used in scientific research and operational applications. In this paper, we reviewed crowdsourcing initiatives in agricultural science and farming activities and further discussed the particular characteristics of this approach in the field of agriculture. On-going crowdsourcing initiatives in agriculture were analysed and categorised according to their crowdsourcing component. The authors have identified eight types of agricultural data and information that can be generated from crowdsourcing initiatives. Subsequently it is described existing methods of quality control of the crowdsourced data. The authors analysed the profiles of potential contributors in crowdsourcing initiatives in agriculture, suggested ways for increasing farmers’ participation, and discussed the on-going initiatives in the light of their target beneficiaries