MowingQuest system-test campaign 2026 concludes, data collection continues

Testing the system ahead of the 2027 campaign

In 2026 a test campaign running in August and September was designed as a system test, bringing together a group of pioneer volunteers to test the entire data-collection process before the main campaign in 2027. This included testing the mobile application, including data quality-control workflows, feedback to participants, and the points-based reward system.

During the two-month test, 25 pioneer users submitted almost 800 quests across eight countries, building on over 300 observations collected during the earlier app-development phase. The approved data are now being shared with project partners for further quality control.

What did the campaign achieve?

The system test generated valuable observations and insights into how the app and data-collection process perform in practice. Key results from the initial reviews of the collected data include:

• 615 approved quests: 438 opportunistic and 177 directed observations, with an average quality rating of 4.5 out of 5.
• 466 mowing observations: these include reports with specific dates and estimates of when mowing took place. The dataset also includes 110 observations of grasslands that had not been mown, eight grazed grasslands, and 31 sites identified as non-grassland.
• A growing geographical coverage: contributions came from mostly from our main test region, Austria, accounting for 561 quests (91%), followed by Germany with 34 (5.5%) and Lithuania with nine (1.5%).

These results provide a useful basis for refining the MowingQuests application, improving data collection, and preparing for the planned larger-scale campaign.

Two Garmin watches awarded to MowingQuest participants for the test campaign

As a special thank-you to the pioneer users who helped test MowingQuest during the August–September 2026 campaign, IIASA, who is a project partner, funded two Garmin GPS smartwatches as raffle prizes. Eligible participants earned points for their contributions, with each additional quest increasing their chances of winning a prize.

Looking ahead to 2027 MowingQuest campaign

More opportunities to participate and win prizes are on the way! The collected feedback and experience will help the MowingQuest team refine the application ahead of the main Europe-wide campaign planned for 2027.

Data collection continues in the meantime! Volunteers can keep submitting mowing observations through the MowingQuest app. Their contributions can count towards additional incentives, including certificates, in-app achievements, and the opportunity to become a co-author of a scientific data descriptor paper. Organisations collaborating on data collection can also have their name and logo, including a link to their website, featured on the MowingQuest project website.

If you want to collaborate or be notified when the campaign starts, use the contact form on the MowingQuest webpage or drop us a line at: [email protected] with the title “I want to participate in MowingQuest 2027”, and we'll keep you posted!