Introducing ClimMob

Sofía Acuña, Marilyn Manrow, Brandon Madriz, Kauê de Sousa

ClimMob: A software platform for experimental citizen science in agriculture

ClimMob supports tricot trial implementers in evaluating technology options across diverse contexts with a one-platform solution to design, manage, and share experiments. It helps implementers plan and monitor processes while ensuring that relevant outputs reach researchers, field agents, and trial participants at the right time. This enables effective trial operations and agile, data-based decisions, underpinned by an excellent user experience.

ClimMob is a free, open-source, online platform for participatory testing projects. It guides users through all stages of their tricot projects: from project design and generation of randomized test packages, to efficient data collection, automated analysis, and reporting.

• Current version: ClimMob 3
• Data collection: can be conducted using the Android app ODK Collect, through online forms (Enketo), or by uploading data via Excel templates
• Analysis: uses many R packages

Requirements: A computer with an internet connection to design the trial and an Android smartphone or tablet for field data collection

Why ClimMob?

Participatory testing in agriculture can be complex, involving multiple actors—such as project implementers, field agents, and farmers—often across different regions or countries. These projects generate large volumes of data that must be organized, validated, and analyzed. Before ClimMob, previous disintegrated pipelines made it unlikely that project outputs were delivered on time.

ClimMob was custom-built to streamline the complexity by supporting:

• Project design and planning
• Generation of randomized test packages
• Efficient data collection and storage
• Monitoring of data and project progress
• Automated data analysis and reporting

By simplifying all stages of the workflow, ClimMob makes tricot projects more manageable, scalable, and successful.

Software architecture and design principles

ClimMob’s architecture was shaped by the need for a feasible and project owner-oriented workflow, while also addressing the requirements of breeders, researchers, and field agents. The platform is designed primarily for scientists and project coordinators who lead participatory trials, ensuring they can manage projects efficiently while keeping outputs relevant for farmers and decision-makers. The software and workflow were developed in parallel to ensure technical coherence, usability, and alignment with real-world project management needs.

ClimMob is built using Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE). This allows for a flexible and modular platform that is easy to update and maintain.

ClimMob is based on robust, widely adopted open-source components, including:

• Open Data Kit (ODK)
• ODK Tools
• PyUtilib Component Architecture

All data analysis is conducted through R packages, ensuring reproducibility and transparency.

User-centered development

From the beginning, ClimMob has followed an iterative and user-centered development process, marked by:

• Ongoing feedback from users
• Short communication loops between developers and field teams
• Continuous improvements based on real-world use

This has resulted in a platform that adapts to the evolving needs of agricultural innovation projects.

Who uses ClimMob—and how?

ClimMob was built to support a range of users within participatory testing projects:

• Implementers (project leaders) - They benefit from tools for project setup, assigning field agents, and managing test packages. ClimMob also offers automatic statistical reports, enabling data-informed decision-making.

• Field agents - They register participants and collect data using the ODK Collect app. This ensures data entry is quick, efficient, and synchronized with ClimMob.

• Testers (participants) - They receive their test results soon after data submission. This rapid feedback helps them learn from peers and adopt the most promising technologies.

What’s next for ClimMob?

Ongoing development of ClimMob focuses on:

• Improving user experience (UI/UX)
• Expanding data types and media (e.g. audio, photos, sensor data)
• Enhancing integration with other platforms
• Strengthening support for data-driven agricultural decision-making

Create a ClimMob account

Create your personal account on ClimMob. If you have already registered an account, you can log in straight away.

How-to:

Visit the ClimMob online software.

On the left upper corner, click on Login or register an account.

If you already have an account, enter your username and password and click on Login (green button).

If you don't have an account, click on Create an account (white button) which you will find under Login.

1. Fill in all the requested fields:

   a. Full name: your name and surname
   b. Email: your email address c. Organization: the organization you are working for, e.g. Alliance Bioversity – CIAT
   d. Country: select your country from the drop-down menu
   e. Sector: select the type of sector you are working for from the drop-down menu
   f. Username: the name you will use to enter the ClimMob dashboard
   g. Password: the password you will use to enter the ClimMob dashboard
   h. Retype password: retype the password you have entered above
   i. Agree with our Terms of service and our Privacy Policy
   j. Finally, click on register and your account will be set

Video tutorial - Create an account

Get familiar with ClimMob

When users log into ClimMob for the first time, they are welcomed with a guided setup designed to help them configure the platform before creating their first project. This workflow ensures that key components are defined early, streamlining future project setup.

Navigate the main menu

The main menu is located on the left side of the screen and gives access to key areas of the platform, including your projects, library items, and tools.

Here is the order in which these onboarding messages appear:

Libraries

Libraries are centralized repositories for elements that will be reused in multiple projects, such as agents, technologies, and questions.

• Field agents: are the individuals responsible for registering farmers and collecting data in the field. You’ll define them once and assign them across multiple projects.
• Technologies: are the options that farmers will evaluate—for example, different seed varieties, soil treatments, or planting methods. These are stored in the library for future use.
• Questions: ClimMob provides a rich library of premade evaluation questions developed by the 1000FARMS team, available in multiple languages and ready to use across projects. This library helps ensure consistency and comparability in data collection. In addition, you can also define your own custom questions, which will then be stored and can be reused in future projects.

Downloads

This menu option gives access to tools and resources needed for field implementation, including:

• Field data collection templates
• Survey forms
• ClimMob documentation
• R analysis tools