What is CSAP About
Citizen Science for Agricultural Prosperity (CSAP) is a collaborative framework designed to rethink how agricultural and environmental intelligence is created, shared, and applied in the Caribbean.
Rather than treating data as something produced only by institutions and experts, CSAP brings farmers, youth, researchers, and public agencies into a shared system where local observations, scientific methods, and digital tools work together. Communities are not passive data sources. They are active participants in shaping what information is collected, how it is interpreted, and how it is used.
CSAP is intentionally exploratory. We recognize that complex challenges such as climate stress, pest outbreaks, and environmental degradation cannot be solved through fixed, top-down solutions. Instead, CSAP operates as a learning system. We pilot, test, adapt, and improve through real-world use, guided by evidence and grounded in community realities. Success is not defined by a single outcome, but by building the capacity to learn faster, respond earlier, and make better decisions over time.
Under the CSAP framework, time-bound projects and pilots are implemented to develop and validate two core initiatives: a Citizen Science Network and a Digital Platform for agricultural intelligence. Together, they form the foundation for more resilient, inclusive, and nature-informed food systems.
For donors and investors, CSAP represents a practical pathway to system-level change. It combines community engagement, digital innovation, and scientific rigor to unlock scalable solutions aligned with climate resilience, nature-based approaches, youth engagement, and economic opportunity.
Core Beliefs
Communities Are Essential Partners
People closest to the land hold knowledge that is critical to resilience and sustainability. Meaningful change happens when communities are empowered to contribute, learn, and act.
Data Is a Public Good
Agricultural intelligence should improve livelihoods, protect ecosystems, and inform policy, not remain siloed or inaccessible.
Innovation Must Be Inclusive
Technology should lower barriers, not raise them. Systems must work for smallholder farmers, rural youth, and under-resourced communities.
Learning Is Continuous
Complex systems require experimentation, reflection, and adaptation. Progress comes from testing ideas in real conditions and evolving based on evidence.
Collaboration Multiplies Impact
No single organization can address agricultural and environmental challenges alone. Shared effort and trust create stronger outcomes.
Partners
CSAP is developed in collaboration with trusted institutional and community partners, including:
U.S. Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago
Supporting cross-border collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation in climate-smart agriculture.
UWI Cocoa Research Centre
Providing scientific leadership, sector expertise, and research validation, particularly within the cocoa sector.
These partnerships anchor CSAP in both local realities and international best practice, ensuring credibility, relevance, and long-term potential.
People
CSAP is led by a multidisciplinary team of practitioners, researchers, technologists, and community organizers with experience in agriculture, digital innovation, and collaborative project delivery. Our work is guided by a Technical Advisory Group that ensures scientific rigor, ethical standards, and responsible data governance, while remaining responsive to community needs.