February 10. Reserved workshop “Food Forward: designing urban and rural agri-food scenarios,” organized by Politecnico di Milano (Department of Design), the University of Pisa, and the University of Parma, as part of the OnFoods Spoke 1 “Global Sustainability” program. This will be followed by a plenary session on “Creative Methods for Research and Learning,” featuring case studies from DISAAA-a.

February 11. Plenary conference “Creative Synergies for Cultivating the Future,” divided into two thematic sessions: Agri-food 4.0 and Design & Innovation. The event will conclude with a roundtable on bridging agri-food and entrepreneurship, along with the SPEED Challenge Award for the best sustainable practices.

The event is free and open to the public, subject to seat availability. Register using the link below.

For the February 10 workshop, please contact Sonia Massari: sonia.massari@unipi.it.

10:00 - 10:30
Institutional Greetings and Opening Remarks – OnFoods Spoke 1
Introduction by institutional representatives from the University of Pisa and partner institutions (OnFoods Spoke 1 “Global Sustainability”)

Prof. Lucia Guidi 
Prof. Filippo Arfini
Prof. Alessio Cavicchi

10:30 - 15:30
Workshop (for OnFoods members only)
“Food Forward: designing urban and rural Agri-Food Scenarios”
Organised by Politecnico di Milano (Department of Design – Polimi Desis Lab), the University of Pisa (PAGE), and the University of Parma, as part of the OnFoods, GENYOU, and SCINGO programs.

An interactive workshop that guides participants through a design-driven process to explore future food scenarios and related services. We will discuss how rural-urban dynamics influence food accessibility, service innovation, and the equitable distribution of resources, while also identifying areas for experimentation that address challenges related to sustainability, efficiency, replicability, and community impact.

15:30 - 16:00
Break

16:00 - 16:30
Plenary
Creative Methods for Research, Learning, and Teaching
Moderator: Prof. Marcello Mele (DISAAA-a, University of Pisa)
Presentation and discussion of creative methods adopted in research and teaching.

• Circle U: Creative and Transdisciplinary Alliances in Research and Teaching
  Speaker: Alessandra Meoni (University of Pisa)

• How Can We Transform Milan’s Food Landscape? Developing a Food Service Masterplan with Design Students 
  Speakers: Marta Corubolo, Irene Bassi, Lucia Viganego (Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Design)

16:30 - 18:00
Why Agricultural Sciences and Agri-food Business Need Creative and Design methods?
Presentations of design case studies and projects developed by DISAAA-a (2023-2024) in collaboration with other Universities, Private and Public Institutions.

Design: Towards New Transdisciplinary Collaborations and Didactics in Food Systems 

• Food Law and Interaction Design: Silvia Rolandi (University of Pisa)

• Food Policy and Design Thinking in Libya–World Food Program: Tarek Allali (University of Pisa)

• Agile Prototyping and Agroecology with DIVINFOOD and FIRAB: Dalia Mattioni, Francesca Galli (University of Pisa)

• Bioeconomy, Agri-Food Policy, and Design Thinking: Sonia Massari e Francesca Galli (University of Pisa)

Design: Co-creative Training Programs for Agri-food Careers

• Tenuta Lab Suvignano for PhD Students: PhD Students DISAAA-a, Letizia Forzoni, Diletta Damiano (Tor Vergata University)

• Mentorship Program for Early-Career Scientists – OnFoods Spoke 1: Sabrina Arcuri (University of Pisa), Michele Maccari (University of Parma)

• Tenuta Lab Paganico  with SDC National PhD Program: Jacopo Goracci, Samuele Risoli (DISAAA-a, University of Pisa)

• Regenerative Food Design Bootcamp in Portugal: Michele Maccari (University of Parma), Annapia Ferrara (University of Pisa), Lucia Viganego (Politecnico Milano, Dipartimento di Design)

Design: From Agri-Food Science to Integrated Communication

• Branding and Communication at Tenuta Suvignano: Elena Rotondi (University of Udine)*online

• Branding Projects for Orientation Initiatives at the DISAAA Department and Portraying New Ruralities: Sonia Massari (University of Pisa), Elena Rotondi (University of Udine)

• Branding and Design in Manciano Pecorino Toscano – Cheese Valley: Alberto Mantino (University of Pisa)

Open Discussion, Q&A, and Closing of the First Day

8:30 - 9:00
Registration

9:00 - 9:30
Conference: Creative Synergies for Cultivating the Future
Institutional Greetings and Conference Opening

Prof. Cristina Nali, Food Agriculture Environment Department Director - DISAAA-a
Prof. Gianluca Brunori, Director PAGE
Prof. Andrea Serra, Director NUTRAFOOD
Prof. Alessio Cavicchi, PAGE, University of Pisa, Rector’s Delegate for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial Culture and Innovation
Prof. Amedeo Alpi, Accademia dei Georgofili 

9:30 - 10:20
Session 1. Agri-food 4.0: Innovation and Sustainability in Agriculture
Chair: Prof. Gianluca Brunori

• Transformative Innovation in the Food Sector
  Prof. Gianluca Brunori (University of Pisa)

• Participatory Approaches, Living Labs, and Innovation in the Agri-food Sector
  Prof. Alessio Cavicchi (University of Pisa, Delegate of the Rector for the Promotion of Entrepreneurial and Innovation Culture)

• Participatory Approaches, Living Labs, and Innovation in the Agri-food Sector
  Prof. Filippo Arfini (University of Parma, OnFoods Spoke 1 Coordinator)

• Connecting the Dots: building food system representations as a tool for policies
  Prof.ssa Francesca Galli (University of Pisa)

Q&A

10:20 - 10:50
Coffee Break

10:50 - 12:20
Session 2. Design and Innovation: Creating Value in the Agri-food Sector
Chair: Sonia Massari

• Beyond Boundaries: Design Culture for Today’s Knowledge Society
  Prof. Lorenzo Imbesi (Sapienza University, President SID - Società Italiana Design)

• Design Orienting Food Scenarios: A collaborative design strategy for Milano 2035
  Prof.ssa Anna Meroni and Marta Corubolo (Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Design, OnFoods)

• Design: Products, Manufacturing, and Systems for the Life Cycle
  Prof. Gabriele Goretti (DESTEC - Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa)

• Growing Novel food Living Labs in corporate Museums 
  Prof.ssa Patrizia Marti (Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences, Siena University, SantaChiara Lab)

• AI-Driven Innovation: Redefining Design Paradigms
  Prof. Filippo Chiarello (School of Engineering, University of Pisa)

• Food Design, Transdisciplinarity, and Living Labs: Enabling Co-Design for Rural Innovation and Agri-Food Transformation
  Sonia Massari (University of Pisa)

Q&A

12:20 - 13:25
Roundtable - Designing a Sustainable Future: Agri-Food and Entrepreneurship Unite
future by fostering entrepreneurship and shaping effective food policies.
Moderator: Prof. Alessio Cavicchi

Marco Mariani (IRPET - Istituto Regionale per la Programmazione Economica della Toscana)
Paolo Alderigi (Polo Tecnologico di Navacchio)
Sabrina Perondi (CNA Pisa)
Susanna Viviani (Regione Toscana, Agriculture and Rural Development Directorate)
Sergio Soavi (Legacoop Toscana)

SPEED Challenge AWARD: Sustainable Practices for Efficient, Effective, and Dynamic Agri-Food!
We will announce the winners of the 'SPEED Challenge'

13:25 - 13:30
Closing Session: Future Perspectives and Transdisciplinary Collaborations in Agri-food sector
Concluding remarks and acknowledgments

13:30 - 14:30
Networking Light Lunch