Framing Livestock and Agriculture Innovation, Resilience and Sustainability (FLAIRS) University of Pisa

Overview

The international School on “ Framing Livestock and Agriculture Innovation, Resilience and Sustainability (FLAIRS) ” will provide theoretical and practical training on the definition, framing, and dissection of the environmental and economic sustainability (with some hints on the social aspects) in agri-livestock systems and its value chain, with particular emphasis on the integration of plant and animal production with natural environments, and their interaction with the needs of the human societies. The program will combine lectures, case studies, and interactive activities to foster interdisciplinary knowledge, addressing environmental, economic, technical, and regulatory aspects.

Topics in the school include:

• General aspects of sustainability: definitions, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and the role of energy transition in agri-food systems.
• Crop production sustainability: technical principles from the cradle to the farm gate.
• Livestock sustainability: sustainable rearing systems and feeding strategies, manure management and environmental impact at farm and territorial level, aquaculture impacts and sustainability strategies , sustainability in small terrestrial animals (including insects).
• Integration of production and nature: coexistence of anthropic systems and natural environments, land sharing vs. land sparing, and mutualistic interactions.
• Economic and legal perspectives: accountability, economic valuation and ecosystem services, agri-food and environmental legislation, and restoration law, and hints on social aspects.

The Summer School will feature theoretical and practical lessons, or seminars, encouraging participants to apply the knowledge acquired to real-world case studies.

Participants will gain an interdisciplinary understanding of sustainability challenges and solutions in agri-livestock systems, and their value chain, developing skills to evaluate production processes, balance environmental and economic trade-offs, and contribute to sustainable innovation in agriculture, animal farming, and their interaction with ecosystems.

The Summer School is supported by international projects and collaborations: OSCAR, SHARInG-MeD (PRIMA GA n 2211), and SUS-SOIL (HORIZON EUROPE GA n 101157560), and aims to create a dynamic environment for students, young researchers, professionals, and stakeholders engaged in the transition towards more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

The Summer School will be activated with at least 20 students. The maximum number of participants is set to 50 students.

The Summer School will be held on campus, in Pisa, at Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, viale delle Piagge, 2.