The project aims at developing an open-access, community-based software prototype for the identification, recording and analysis of phytoliths. Phytoliths are silica-based particles formed inside plants that are studied worldwide in multiple research disciplines such as archaeology, ecology, soil science, plant science, climatology, palaeoecology and paleontology. The overwhelming majority of phytolith data is not interoperable or reusable, potentially creating redundant research and overinvestment of funds and hindering the potential developments of phytolith applications. These include, amongst other, developing drought-resistant crops, improving our models on climate impact on environments, and devising new nanomaterials. Despite several tentatives of standardisation, identification, naming and recording still present a high variety between, and within discipline. At present there is no tool that can streamline and standardise phytolith identification and analysis.

PhytEasy is based on a tool developed by A. Ruiz-Giralt during his PhD and will be made available as a prototype following Open Science and FAIR principles. This prototype will be made available to the phytolith community to test and improve. We will work closely with the ICOPS committee (International Committee on Open Phytolith Science) whose membres will participate in the testing of the prototype and share it amongst their contacts. Strict collaboration will also be maintained with the IPS (International Phytolith Society) and its standing committees that are composed by researchers working in different fields. These collaborations will ensure that we can reach a high number of phyttolith analysts who will test the prototype in a "real-world" scenario and provide feedback for the development of the final product (at a later stage).