Master in Agroecology and Food Sovereignty

In the first phase, students will establish a shared theoretical foundation that encompasses the action-learning approach (including competence development) and the principles of Food Sovereignty. They will gain proficiency in the action-learning methodology, initiate the process of connecting with MAFS communities, form peer-to-peer learning groups, embark on agroecological farm visits, and engage in practical garden activities. Students will also participate in significant Slow Food events like Terra Madre (Torino) and Cheese (Bra).

Subjects:

• Action learning & research
• Agroecology I: Principles (with a focus on Historical Ecology)
• Food Sovereignty
• Cultural Ecology & Anthropology
• Sociology & Rural Development
• Food Labeling Regulation & Quality Legislation
• Right to Food & Gender Issues

The second phase delves further into action-learning and action-research within the realm of agricultural and food systems. Students will formulate research and learning strategies (MAFS Community portfolio), craft a proposal for the Thesis Research Project, engage in agroecological farm visits, hands-on garden activities, and participate in an enlightening weeklong study trip. They will initiate contact and interaction with their respective MAFS Community.

Subjects:

• Agroecology II: Practices
• Agroforestry
• Climate
• Soil
• Biodiversity
• Crops
• Animal Husbandry
• Food Technology
• Sensory and Consumer Science
• Agrifood Economics & Policy

Activities: Students work on their action-learning and action-research project within the communities, supervised by professors, tutors and supported by learning groups; day by day hands-on farm activities in the communities.

Goals:

• Carrying out the action-learning and action-research thesis project;
• Contributing to the community's day by day activities and gaining a deeper understanding of the farm practises;
• Improving the core competences by practicing them.

Activities: Finalising the individual master thesis based on the action-learning and action-research project; creating the MAFS booklet; defence of the thesis; final MAFS programme reflection activities.

Goals:

• Finalising the master thesis;
• Closing the action-learning action-research approach and reflect on the competence development;
• Publishing the MAFS booklet;
• MAFS graduation.

Every year some of the main experts of the food sector are invited to Pollenzo to teach and share their knowledge. Here below some of most renowned professors and professionals of food, food production and agroecology in the world, which have confirmed their presence at this master program:

Miguel Altieri, UC Berkeley (keynote speaker)
Miguel A . Altieri received a BS in Agronomy from the University of Chile and a PhD in Entomology from the University of Florida. Since 1981, he has been a Professor of Agroecology at UC Berkeley in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management ( www.agroeco.org(link is external) and www.cnr.berkeley.edu(link is external)). Dr Altieri served as a Scientific Advisor to the Latin American Consortium on Agroecology and Development (CLADES) in Chile and promoted NGO network agroecology as a strategy for small farm sustainable development in the region. He also served for four years as the General Coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme’s Sustainable Agriculture Networking and Extension Programme, which aimed to build agroecology among NGOs and the scaling-up of successful local, sustainable agricultural initiatives in Africa, Latin America and Asia. In addition, he was the chairman of the NGO committee of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research, whose mission was to make sure that the research agenda of the 15 International Agricultural Research Centers benefited the poor farmers. He was also the Director of the US-Brasil Consortium on Agroecology and Sustainable Rural Development (CASRD), an academic-research exchange program involving students and faculty of UC Berkeley, University of Nebraska, UNICAMP and Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina. Currently, he is an advisor to the FAO-GIAHS program (Globally Ingenious Agricultural Heritage Systems(link is external), a program devoted to identifying and dynamically conserving traditional farming systems in the developing world. He also served for six years as the President of the Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology. He is the author of more than 230 publications and numerous books, including Agroecology: The Science of Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity, Pest Management in Agroecosystems and Agroecology and the Search for a Truly Sustainable Agriculture. Research interests: Biological control agroecology

Geir Lieblein, NMBU, Norway
Geir Lieblein is a professor of Agroecology at the Department of Plant Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and a member of the NMBU research team responsible for developing future curriculums, education and training systems within the NEXTFOOD project. He has solid experience in action and experiential learning activities and agroecology education. He is the author of 50 appropriate scientific publications.

Alexander Wezel, ISARA, France
Alexander Wezel is an agroecologist and landscape ecologist who dealt with various topics related to land use and resource conservation in the Tropics and Subtropics at the beginning of his career. In the last ten years, his research has been focused on analyzing worldwide interpretations and definitions of agroecology and agroecological practices and on different topics dealing with the analysis and management of agroecosystems. In particular, he deals with the issues management of biodiversity, water quality, ecological corridors, and the conservation of biological control. Since 2006, Alexander Wezel has worked for Isara, Lyon, France. Before, he was engaged at the Universities of Hohenheim and Greifswald in Germany. He also carried out consultancies in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Italy, specifically for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, Italy. He is co-author of the High-Level Panel of Experts report of the UN Committee on World Food Security on agroecology and other innovative approaches. He is an associate editor of two international journals and a book series. In addition, he is a reviewer for more than 20 scientific journals. Moreover, he is the coordinator of an international master course in Agroecology.

John Richard 'Rick' Stepp
John Richard 'Rick' Stepp is an anthropologist and ethnobiologist who currently holds the position of UF Research Foundation Professor at the University of Florida. Stepp was previously the G. P. Wilder Professor of Botany at the University of Hawaii.
His work examines the strong relationship between biological diversity and cultural diversity. Stepp was trained at the Universities of Florida and Georgia under the respective tutelage of Howard T. Odum and Eugene P. Odum. He has also been involved in research on the importance of weeds as medicinal plants for indigenous peoples. He serves as a regional governor for Slow Food USA. He was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Ethnobiology from 2005 to 2008, president of the Society for Economic Botany (2014), and president of the International Society of Ethnobiology (2018-2020).

Valentina Robiglio
Valentina Robiglio, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, Montpellier (CGIAR).
She holds a PhD in Forestry from Bangor University, United Kingdom. Her major research interests include tropical land-use trajectories, forest-cover dynamics, agricultural intensification, smallholders’ livelihoods, environmental services, and mitigation and adaptation in smallholding contexts on tropical forest margins. Prior to joining CIFOR-ICRAF, she was a junior professional officer at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, attached to the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins.

The master programme will bring students into an agroecological initiative network. Students will be matched to selected communities around the world, taking into account language skills, preferred research themes, capacity, possibilities, and means.

During the three months of action-learning and action-research, students will implement their projects in and with one of the communities and will be supported by the community members, university professors, tutors and the learning community.

For example, students can join one of the Terra Madre communities. Terra Madre is the network launched by Slow Food with the intent to connect small-scale farmers, breeders, fishers and food artisans whose approach to food production protects the environment and their communities. The network brings them together with academics, cooks, consumers and youth groups, so that they can join forces in working to improve food systems.

The experience in the communities will allow students to better understand the principles and challenges of rural areas and to become active players within agri-food systems.

This booklet involves communities, students and their action learning and research results:

Download the Booklet 22/23 >

Download the Booklet 20/21 >

The university fee for the Master in Agroecology and Food Sovereignty is: 16,500 €

The fee includes:

• all academic activities, including conferences, tastings, and seminars;
• study material (in digital format);
• all study trip expenses as programmed, including travel, food and lodging;
• participation in many UNISG and Slow Food events as included in the Master program;
• private insurance policy covering urgent healthcare for non-European students;
• access to Career Office services (food sector job placement);
• enrollment certificates, official transcripts, receipts of payment and international legalization of diploma for non-Italian students, including mailing fees.

Note: The university fee does NOT cover cost of living during 1st & 2nd phase in Pollenzo and travel, cost of living during 3rd (community experience) & 4th phase, graduation expenses, and the cost of obtaining an Italian permit of stay (“permesso di soggiorno”, around €150). Non-EU citizens must apply for a permesso di soggiorno at the post office, ideally with the assistance of the Al Elka Foreigner Services Center, within 8 working days after arriving in Italy. For more information, please see the Bureaucratic Procedures  page on our website.

For further information about fee payment regulations >

1. A three-year undergraduate "first-level" degree (or equivalent):
   • Applicants not in possession of a three-year university degree equivalent to a Bachelor’s may still apply and be admitted to the Master under auditor status, obtaining a Certificate of Attendance upon successful completion of the program;
   • Degrees accredited outside of Italy must be submitted together with a legalization document attesting to both the equivalency and authenticity of the diploma.
2. Proficiency in written and spoken English:
   • Certifications of English proficiency are not required.

Important Information

• Students from all countries are eligible to apply.
•  In order to obtain a study visa, non-EU students must obtain a consular appointment, generally through the Prenot@mi website, prior to admission or as early as possible, as dates are limited, as well as complete a consular pre-enrollment process through the Universitaly portal.
• For more information, please see "Apply for a study visa and legalize academic titles" on the "International Student Start Point" page of our website. Here is the link.

Learn more about admission process >