Valentina Bruno

Valentina Bruno (born on 19 September 1994) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Turin and later completed a Master’s degree in Environmental, Cultural and Territorial Economics, also at the University of Turin. During her master’s studies, she focused on environmental and climate policies, with a thesis on deforestation linked to agricultural commodity production. She previously worked as a policy advisor and researcher for the Piedmont Region, both in Brussels and in Turin, within the Environment Direction, where she contributed to the Climate Change Strategy for the agricultural sector.

Her research interests include agroecology, climate change, political ecology, ecological economics and degrowth, which she approaches from a critical perspective in relation to the current ecological crisis. She is currently a PhD candidate working on a research project that looks at the environmental and economic assessment of ecosystem services related to legume cultivation and alpine pastures in the Valchiusella area. The project explores agroecological practices, critically examines the strengths and limits of the ecosystem services approach and includes a sociological focus on ecofeminism in agroecology, with particular attention to the link between agroecological practices and the idea of nature’s “ecological reproduction”.

She is also involved in the Germonte 7 project, which aims to develop a pathway towards establishing a Food and Agricultural Biodiversity Community in Valchiusella, as a model that could be replicated in other areas of Piedmont. The project focuses on protecting and enhancing local plant and animal genetic resources, while promoting sustainable farming practices and responsible tourism.