How Digital Tools and Citizen Participation Can Transform Food Systems: Learnings from Our SPOON Project What does it take to motivate people to make healthier and more sustainable food choices? And under which conditions are citizens willing to share their personal food-related data to support research and innovation? 254 citizens across six European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Slovenia, and Spain) explored these questions as part of our Citizen Science Labs (CSL) organised within the SPOON project and coordinated by the CSCP. What motivates citizens to share data The first CSL iteration focused on understanding citizens’ expectations and concerns regarding the sharing of food-related personal data. The discussions showed that citizens are generally open to contributing data when there is a clear purpose and meaningful benefit. However, trust is a decisive factor. Participants highlighted the importance of transparency, simple explanations, strong safeguards, and the ability to maintain control over their own data. Universities, research institutions, civil society organisations, and other non-commercial actors were generally perceived as more trustworthy, while concerns about commercial use, profiling, and unclear data flows reduced willingness to participate. Citizens also emphasised that participation should provide visible value, such as personalised insights, support for healthier diets, food waste reduction, or contributions to improving food systems. What impacts behaviours most The second CSL iteration explored everyday food planning and purchasing behaviours using the COM-B behavioural model. The findings showed that citizens generally have the motivation and knowledge to make healthier and more sustainable choices. However, everyday realities strongly influence behaviour. Time pressure, affordability, household routines, product availability, and the retail environment often determine whether intentions can be translated into action. The SPOON multimedia questionnaire & digital toolset Participants also tested and provided feedback on SPOON’s multimedia questionnaire and digital toolset. Their input highlighted the importance of intuitive design, clear communication, simple onboarding processes, and transparent explanations of how data are managed. “The Citizen Science Labs demonstrate that successful digital solutions and behavioural interventions need to go beyond providing information: they must build trust, reduce barriers, and create tangible value for citizens.”, shares Arlind Xhelili, CSCP Project Manager. Next steps As coordinator of the CSLs, the CSCP facilitated the exchange between European communities and will focus next on ensuring that their experiences and perspectives directly inform the further development of SPOON tools and interventions. The first two CSL iterations mark the beginning of a journey of citizen engagement within SPOON. Over the coming months, three further iterations will explore additional stages of the food consumption journey, including food storage, preparation, eating practices, leftover management, and food waste prevention. Building on the insights gathered so far, the CSLs will continue as spaces for co-creation, bringing together citizens and relevant stakeholders to develop and implement behavioural change interventions addressing specific challenges identified across the project’s pilot regions and along the food consumption journey. Beyond the content-related insights, a key outcome of the CSL journey will be the further development and application of the SPOON Digital Toolset. This will provide the foundation for large-scale food-related data collection across Europe while enabling citizens to actively participate in shaping future food systems and decision-making processes. To find out more about the Citizen Science Labs and opportunities for collaboration, please contact Francesca Grossi. For further information, please reach out to Arlind Xhelili.