Starting this Friday, 31st of July, the Mowing Quest citizen science campaign invites people across Europe to help improve grassland monitoring. By using the free Geo-Quest app, participants can report mowing events directly from the field and support scientific research with their own observations. The campaign will be open during August and September to test the system capabilities in preparation for a larger 2027 campaign.
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), together with project partners GAF and GeoVille, is launching Mowing Quest — a citizen science campaign that invites anyone interested across Europe to support grassland monitoring by reporting mowing events from the field. As part of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) Grassland Mowing Events and Dates activity, collected data from citizens will help improve our understanding of how grasslands are managed across Europe.
Grasslands are important ecosystems for nature, climate and agriculture. Monitoring how they are managed is essential, but mowing events can be difficult to detect from satellite data alone, especially when vegetation regrows quickly. Observations from citizens on the ground can therefore provide valuable information that complements satellite-based monitoring.
© Mowing Quest
What is the Mowing Quest?
Mowing Quest is one of several modules within the Geo-Quest application, alongside other thematic “quests” focused on environmental monitoring. Mowing Quest is designed as an interactive and user-friendly tool for recording mowing events on grassland sites across Europe. The geo-Quest app and therefore the Mowing Quest can also be used offline, making it possible to collect observations in areas with limited mobile connectivity.
Anyone interested can take part — citizen scientists, farmers, nature enthusiasts, hikers, runners, residents and anyone who would like to observe grassland areas. Using the app, participants can report mowing events by taking photos or videos of the grassland fields. These observations provide valuable in-situ information that helps scientists better understand when and where mowing takes place. Your contribution can help improve scientific knowledge of grassland management, support European environmental monitoring and strengthen the quality of grassland-related Copernicus products.
How to join the prototype test 2026 Mowing Quest Campaign?
Joining the campaign is simple! Follow these steps: Visit the Mowing Quest webpage and follow the instructions starting with:
- downloading the free Geo-Quest app,
- opening the Mowing Quest module and,
- visiting a target location or recording a mowing event anywhere you observe one
When submiting your quests, make sure to remain in public areas. Pay attention to the picture and video guidelines which you will find in the app.
To make sure that the observations that we collect are of high quality, we have included web and in-app training materials and guidance. We encourage you to review these before submitting your records to ensure that each observation is useful for scientific analysis.
Awards will also be available for especially active participants and high-quality contributions!
Help us test and improve Mowing Quest
Please note that this campaign will serve as a preparatory campaign for 2027. One of the main goals of the Mowing Quest campaign in 2026 is to test the system and collect feedback from participants to support future improvements for a larger campaign that will be running in 2027.
As Mowing Quest is still under development currently, you should expect updates and changes during the campaign. Recent news and changes will be shared through social media channels and our the campaign webpage as well as in the Geo-Quest app.
Join the prototype test Mowing Quest in 2026 and help improve grassland monitoring across Europe — each observation is very valuable.
© MowingQuest
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