Michela Bunino and Nicola del Vecchio: together for multifunctional farming
Nicola Del Vecchio, a former student of the Undergraduate Degree in Gastronomic Sciences and Cultures, continues his graduate degree studies in Pollenzo, where he met Michela Bunino, a former student of the same graduate course. Together they gave life to the multifunctional Alba farm in Molise, Italy.
Answers by Nicola, Michela in the video.
You are true pioneers of the Studies of Gastronomic Sciences: What brought you to Pollenzo in 2005, just one year after the university’s inauguration?
My story is a bit extravagant, as my father, a good Slowfoodian, first learned about the university’s birth and encouraged me to go. It was love at first sight to such an extent that it still influences my and our life with constant stimuli. The fact that we were at the root of UNISG’s history, and given the number of initial students, did nothing but create a sense of extended family.
What values did Pollenzo instil in you that you carry with you in your daily life?
Undoubtedly, having lived with people from all over the world has broadened our horizons, especially mine, coming from Molise. Leaving us with values of social justice and the idea of “good, clean and fair”, UNISG gave rise to what today is Alba.
Having had the opportunity to travel and touch many realities has made us develop a deep understanding of the concept of multifunctionality, that is, productions related to each other that represent the true expression of our farm.
Alba is a multifunctional Molise company; What are its strengths?
In this regard, we can say that the differentiation, the quality, the openness towards producer networks (even if it is tough to network!), the desire to develop something right for those who produce and for those who buy in harmony with the surrounding environment, represent some of our strengths.
What advice would you give those who would like to undertake a path in Gastronomic Sciences today, with the dream of enhancing their territory of origin?
Our advice is to believe in it, carefully weighing the steps to be taken, trying to be inclusive and developing territorial networks, without being bothered by things that are not right (which is very difficult but necessary), looking towards a tomorrow with those few certainties that you have after your studies and always open to doubt, to grow.
