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Training for the ecological transition
The URBAGRI+ project, promoted by Les Cols Verts (France) in partnership with EStà – Economia e Sostenibilità (Italy) and RUAF (the Netherlands) and co-funded by the European Erasmus+ programme, aims to develop a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on urban agriculture at European level.
The initiative builds on an analysis of an existing free training programme in French, with the aim of integrating and adapting it to take account of the specific climatic, regulatory and socio-economic conditions of different regions across Europe. This exploratory phase serves to exchange local practices, analyse training needs and prepare a broader partnership for the implementation of the course on a transnational scale.
The educational content is aimed at two main target groups:
- Members of the public, to increase their awareness of the environmental and social benefits associated with urban agriculture.
- Public decision-makers and local technical experts, to provide them with knowledge and planning tools to help integrate agriculture into local policies.
EStà’s role
Within the project, EStà acts as a scientific and methodological partner, overseeing the educational design and facilitating the alignment of European analytical models with Italian local dynamics.
Activities include:
- analysing and mapping training needs at Italian and European level;
- co-designing and structuring the methodology for the MOOC’s teaching modules;
- facilitating face-to-face working sessions and coordinating international partners during the Italian stages;
- conducting field research and analysing good local practices;
- producing scientific content, interviews and video-documentary material for the online course;
- developing networks for scientific and institutional cooperation at local and national level.
Project objectives
- To analyse and map European training needs
To compare the different contexts across northern and southern, and eastern and western Europe in order to identify local specificities and assess the expectations of trainers and local stakeholders, ensuring the scientific relevance of the future course. - Adapting teaching content to European contexts
Enriching the training programme through case studies representative of different models of urban agriculture, incorporating modules dedicated to regulatory, climatic and management differences. - Building a network of scientific cooperation
Mobilise academic, institutional and third-sector stakeholders across Europe to establish a stable cooperation framework (Erasmus+ KA220) aimed at enhancing the impact and accessibility of the MOOC. - Define a dissemination strategy
Identify the most suitable communication channels to reach the target audiences and organise a Europe-wide event to foster scientific discussion on the course topics.
The research process and fieldwork
The field research activities involved a series of stages and in-depth methodological sessions held in person in Milan and Rome:
- Cascina Cuccagna (Milan): analysis of a case study involving historic restoration, urban regeneration and social farming in the city centre. The site is of direct relevance to the research group, as it houses the operational headquarters of EStà.
- Cascina Nascosta (Milan): analysis of local public policies on ecological transition and urban afforestation, conducted through discussions with Elena Grandi, Councillor for the Environment and Green Spaces at Milan City Council, and representatives of Legambiente Lombardia.
- Cascina Campazzo (Parco Agricolo Sud Milano): a study of the management of traditional peri-urban agriculture, the protection of the agricultural landscape and the local dairy supply chain on the outskirts of the metropolitan area, led by Andrea Falappi.
- Soulfood Forestfarms (Milan): analysis of urban agroforestry and agroecology practices applied to soil management and biodiversity.
- FAO (Rome): institutional meeting with Guido Santini to broaden the analysis to include urban food policies on a global scale.
- ‘Vivere in’ Project (Rome): analysis of a social farming initiative active in the Roman suburbs.
Expected outcomes
- Detailed analytical report: a document analysing urban agriculture in Europe and mapping the key stakeholders in the sector.
- Enhanced MOOC platform: a structured online course with specific modules tailored to different European climatic and regulatory contexts.
- Structured cooperation network: consolidation of the partnership with a view to a future application for Erasmus+ KA220 programmes.
- Communication and dissemination strategy: a plan setting out recommendations and guidelines to ensure maximum accessibility and dissemination of the training tool.
