Oeiras Experimenta - Living Lab
Oeiras Experimenta: Climate-Smart Crops for Sustainable Food Production is a citizen science initiative that brings researchers and local communities together to study alternative and underused crops, addressing climate change and contributing to Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Oeiras Experimenta is being implemented in Portugal through a partnership between ITQB NOVA and the Oeiras Municipality, as part of "Programa Ciência + Cidadã" - an innovative citizenship programme that aims to encourage active citizen involvement in science. The project aims to create a research agroecosystem while restoring the historic recreational farm Quinta de Cima do Marquês de Pombal in Oeiras, by focusing on crops that are more resilient to drought, such as grass pea, sorghum, millets, cereal hybrids, quinoa and dryland rice. This living laboratory brings together scientists, citizens, policymakers, and local associations, fostering collaboration beyond conventional research boundaries.
Oeiras Experimenta brings together 3 leading ITQB NOVA scientific research laboratories with a team of 15 researchers, including Masters and PhD students, all developing projects within this framework. Early findings have pointed to crop species and varieties that are better able to withstand drought. These discoveries, along with insights into how these plants cope with stress, could be key to building more sustainable food systems for the future. Citizens play a key role, participating in research stages from sowing and field maintenance to data collection and decision-making, enriching discussions and contributing to the project. As Giovanna Dellarole, a citizen scientist, shared: “Getting involved is addicting! Science makes you understand this world, and scientists share their knowledge with simplicity and humility.”
ITQB NOVA RESEARCH LABORATORIES IN OEIRAS EXPERIMENTA:
- Proteome Regulation in Plants
- Plant Ecophysiology and Metabolism Laboratory
- Genetics and Genomics of Plant Complex Traits (PlantX)
To date, the project has engaged over 2000 participants across generations and diverse social groups, including local communities, non-profit organizations, students from pre-school to higher education, and members of senior universities. Visitors to the Oeiras Experimenta stand at events like the European Researchers’ Night and a Science Café, were also part of this outreach activites. These events showcased three European projects: Bauhaus of the Sea Sails, Eutopia Health, and IMPETUS-Oeiras Experimenta.
OEIRAS EXPERIMENTA
3 RESEARCH TRIALS (GRASS PEA, RICE, WINTER AND SUMMER CEREALS)
15 RESERCHERS
10 STUDENTS
12 REGULAR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS
476 CITIZENS IN GUIDED VISITS
1500 VISITORS AT EXTERNAL OEIRAS EXPERIMENTA EVENTS
Partnerships with social inclusion organizations such as SEMEAR, CAIS, Bairro dos Navegadores social neighborhood and Centro Educativo Padre António Oliveira juvenile detention center have been essential in encouraging community involvement. Support from partners like Casa do Concelho de Alvaiázere, local restaurants and canteens has enriched our network. These collaborations promote sustainable practices by co-creating recipes using resilient crops and incorporating artistic elements like illustrations and mockups to enhance public engagement and understanding. With the support of IMPETUS funding, training, and mentoring, we expanded our network of citizen scientists while strengthening partnerships and outreach efforts. This support provided a foundation for future growth, ensuring the project’s sustainability and inclusivity.
SOCIAL INCLUSION IN OEIRAS EXPERIMENTA
6 SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS:
CAIS
CENTRO EDUCATIVO PADRE ANTÓNIO DE OLIVEIRA
BAIRRO DOS NAVEGADORES
UNIVERSIDADE SÉNIOR-OFICINA DE SABERES
SUSTAINABLE RECIPES AND MENUS IN OEIRAS
4 RESTAURANTS AND CANTEENS
>10 SUSTAINABLE PICNICS
Looking ahead, Oeiras Experimenta plans to deepen its research into sustainable crops and collaboration with local food systems. Our goal is building a resilient, inclusive model benefiting both the environment and society, while raising awareness about agriculture and food security. By engaging citizens across generations, we aim to harness action to drive change, promoting a future for all.
