Divinfood, NUCs and agrobiodiversity – Agile Food Design and Living Labs for sustainable innovation

Authors

  • Sonia Massari University of Pisa (Italy)
  • Francesca Galli University of Pisa (Italy)
  • Luca Colombo Italian Foundation for Research in Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture (FIRAB)
  • Gabriele Goretti University of Pisa (Italy)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/17282025

Keywords:

living labs, agroecology, sustainability, transdisciplinarity, food design

Abstract

This article explores the role of agile food design as a catalyst for innovation in agri-food systems, starting from the European project Divinfood, which aims to enhance underutilised agrobiodiversity, such as white lupin, through co-creation methodologies. The transdisciplinary approach, which combines scientific research and design, facilitates the creation of sustainable solutions for ecological transition. Through Living Labs, scenario-based design enables the generation of new synergies among agri-food supply chain actors, promoting the integration of creative skills to respond to sustainability challenges. The study highlights how collaborative and agile food design can contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agri-food system, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

 

Article info

Received: 15/03/2025; Revised: 28/04/2025; Accepted: 30/04/2025

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Author Biographies

Sonia Massari, University of Pisa (Italy)

PhD, she is a Researcher in Food Design with experience in sustainability and agri-food systems at DISAAA_A and co-founder of FORK Food Design Organisation. Her research interests include participatory approaches in agri-food, Living Labs and transdisciplinarity, design thinking, and education in sustainable entrepreneurship. She is a board member of the ‘Sismondi’ Rural Studies Laboratory.
E-mail: sonia.massari@unipi.it

Francesca Galli, University of Pisa (Italy)

She is an Associate Professor at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-environmental Sciences. She has 15 years of experience in European projects (FP7, H2020, HE) on the socioeconomic and policy challenges of agri-food systems. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change.
E-mail: francesca.galli@unipi.it

Luca Colombo, Italian Foundation for Research in Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture (FIRAB)

She is a graduate of Agricultural Sciences, is the Secretary General of the Italian Foundation for Research in Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture (FIRAB). He participates as an expert in research and innovation projects on organic farming, agroecological approaches, cultivated biodiversity, and co-innovation processes and methodologies. He is an expert with the European Technology Platform (TP) Organics.
E-mail: l.colombo@firab.it

Gabriele Goretti, University of Pisa (Italy)

Architect and PhD, he is an Associate Professor at the DESTEC Department and Director of the editorial series D+E Design and Engineering Ecosystems by Pisa University Press. His research focuses on design-driven innovation for SME clusters and manufacturing districts.
E-mail: gabriele.goretti@unipi.it

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Gadget and usage scenario for the sale and consumption of the Ape-Lupino aperitif product (credit: Authors and the ISIA Design Roma workshop participants, Divinfood Project).  AGATHÓN 17 | 2025

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Published

30-06-2025

How to Cite

Massari, S., Galli, F., Colombo, L. and Goretti, G. (2025) “Divinfood, NUCs and agrobiodiversity – Agile Food Design and Living Labs for sustainable innovation”, AGATHÓN | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, 17, pp. 398–411. doi: 10.69143/2464-9309/17282025.

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