Strengthening of the Italian Research Infrastructure for Metrology and Open Access Data in support to the Agrifood
METROFOOD-IT and Agritech Center Join Forces for the FU.S.T.O Innovation Pathway at Santa Chiara LAB
At Santa Chiara Lab of the University of Siena, a new interdisciplinary pathway for innovation, technology transfer, and guidance has been launched, called FU.S.T.O. This acronym highlights the journey from Soilless Cultivation (Fuori Suolo) to the Table (Tavola) and Beyond (Oltre), integrating social and economic perspectives. FU.S.T.O. has been made possible thanks to funding from the PNRR METROFOOD-IT and Agritech Center projects, financed by the Italian Ministry of University and Research with Next Generation EU funds.
The Santa Chiara Lab’s research facilities dedicated to agrifood systems cover multiple stages, from Field to Table and beyond. In particular, METROFOOD-IT has fully funded the Kitchen Lab, a kitchen-laboratory designed to foster innovation in food processing by merging traditional culinary techniques with cutting-edge technologies such as 3D scanning, 3D printing, and 2D/3D modeling for food mold creation. Additionally, METROFOOD-IT has supported the Packaging Lab, located at the San Miniato Scientific Hub, which focuses on developing innovative and sustainable food packaging solutions.
The combined funding from METROFOOD-IT and Agritech has also enabled the creation of the Farming Lab, a laboratory equipped with sensors to monitor all variables affecting plant growth, capable of replicating both natural and stress-induced growth conditions. Similarly, the Track & Quality Lab has been established to identify and trace the origin and variety of food products within the agri-industrial sector.
The FU.S.T.O. pathway is further enriched by the ESG4AGRI Lab, which assesses the sustainability of agrifood businesses, and the AgriHub Lab, which conducts sector-wide scenario analyses, both financed by Agritech. Additionally, Santa Chiara Next, a spin-off of the University of Siena, supports businesses, institutions, and organizations in aligning with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"The FU.S.T.O. initiative is a prime example of how different PNRR projects can successfully integrate actions, ultimately benefiting sustainability and innovation in the agrifood sector, which must accelerate its transformation in the coming years," says Claudia Zoani, Coordinator of METROFOOD-IT.
"The Sustainable Development Goals include not only ending hunger but also promoting food security, improving nutrition, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices. These are critical objectives, and at Santa Chiara Lab, we believe that technological and organizational innovation can make a concrete impact—provided that we consider the entire supply chain, from Soil to Table and Beyond, just as FU.S.T.O envisions," explains Professor Angelo Riccaboni, Scientific Coordinator of FU.S.T.O.