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Create a network between businesses, institutions, professionals, universities and citizens to transform Calabrian agri-food into a model of sustainable development capable of regenerating territories and communities. This is the objective of “Network 4CalAgriRi-genera: networking in Calabria on sustainable agri-food to regenerate rural areas and communities”, a research project promoted by the Department of Law, Economics and Sociology of the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro.
The initiative was presented at the regional Citadel in the presence of the Agriculture Councilor Gianluca Gallo and obtained funding of 135 thousand euros from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security as part of the support actions for the national strategy for sustainable development.
A digital hub for the agri-food sector
The project develops along two main lines. The first is CALAgriFood, a free digital platform dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge on agri-food legislation, sustainable finance, food education and innovation opportunities for the sector. The second concerns the experimentation of the innovative teaching method “SSS NutriAMOci” (Security, Safety & Sustainability), aimed at promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles.
The CALAgriFood platform was developed by Smart City Instruments (SCI), a spin-off of the University of Calabria and an innovative SME active in the fields of digital transformation, smart territories and innovation applied to sustainable development.
The hub was born as a collaborative space in which agricultural businesses, producers, public bodies, universities, associations, professionals and citizens can share skills, build relationships and develop new opportunities for territorial growth.
The contribution of the College of Agricultural Experts
Among the partners of the initiative is the College of Agricultural Experts and Graduate Agricultural Experts of the Province of Cosenza, which will contribute to the dissemination of the platform and the involvement of sector operators. Thanks to the technical skills of its members and the knowledge of local production realities, the College will act as a link between the world of research, innovation and agriculture, encouraging the transfer of knowledge and the adoption of sustainable practices.
An interdisciplinary approach
One of the most innovative aspects of the project is its interdisciplinary nature. Agriculture, digital technology, sustainable finance, food education, scientific research and health are integrated within a single collaborative ecosystem, with the aim of addressing the challenges of sustainability through a shared vision.
During the presentation, Alfredo Sguglio, CEO of Smart City Instruments and member of the Scientific Council of the CALAgriFood platform, underlined the value of this model.
«The transformations of territories cannot be addressed within the confines of a single discipline. CALAgriFood is a space for collaboration between agriculture, digital technologies, sustainability, economy, health and territorial governance. Smart territories are not built only through technology, but through the ability to integrate different knowledge, experiences and visions. A digital platform makes sense when it becomes a space for cooperation, capable of transforming information and relationships into concrete development opportunities.”