Over five days, Alessandra Piccoli engaged with students and the faculty through a series of lectures and discussions that bridged environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability.

Her first presentation, delivered during a lunch seminar titled “Participatory Food Networks and Collective Transformation of Agricultural Practices” examined how Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) function as grassroots innovations challenging the industrialized food system. Framed within the context of the Anthropocene and agroecology as an exit strategy, the lecture introduced theoretical perspectives such as unmaking capitalism, prefigurative politics, and ecofeminism.

These approaches highlight the importance of dismantling market-driven logics and creating spaces for democratic governance, ethics of care, and community empowerment. CSA and PGS were presented not only as economic alternatives, but also as transformative ecosystems where learning and unlearning occur—fostering trust, solidarity, and ecological citizenship. The discussion touched on their potential to scale without losing their core values, and their role in shaping resilient and inclusive food systems.

The second guest lecture, in Prof. Quinones-Ruiz’s Sociology of Agriculture course, focused on sustainable viticulture in South Tyrol and explored why farmers adopt innovative practices such as PIWI grape varieties, which reduce pesticide use and support biodiversity. Beyond environmental gains, we explored how these decisions intersect with cultural identity, political ecology, and workers’ well-being.

A key theme was the idea of treating nature as an active subject rather than a passive resource—an approach that challenges agro-industrial hierarchies and supports more horizontal, respectful working environments.

The third lecture, in Prof. Quinones-Ruiz’s course “Working Together – Collective Action for Adaptive Natural Resource Management” returned to CSA and PGS as participatory models that reconnect producers and consumers through trust, transparency, and shared responsibility. These initiatives act as “seeds of transition,” creating hybrid spaces between capitalist and non-capitalist logics while fostering empowerment and ecological citizenship.

Together, they explored the broader implications for food sovereignty, justice, and democratic participation. Questions surrounding conflict resolution, risks of co-optation, and the role of political support sparked a lively debate—underscoring the complexity and urgency of transforming food systems in the Anthropocene.

This visit was more than an academic exchange; it marked the beginning of promising future collaborations. For the Competence Center, these advanced forms of cooperatives—whether in viticulture or food distribution—offer a fertile ground for inquiry. They challenge conventional paradigms, integrate social and environmental sustainability, and point toward more resilient rural economies.

Understanding their governance, social impact, and scalability will be essential for shaping policies and practices aligned with principles of solidarity and sustainability.

BOKU’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and participatory approaches resonates strongly with our mission. I look forward to building on this dialogue and exploring joint projects that deepen our understanding of cooperative innovations in agriculture.