Italy

Emilia Romagna, Italy

Pilot support: Confagricoltura

Challenges: Loss of assets, production potential due to 2023 extensive flood; skills shortage; costly technology solutions, no adequate scale of application.

Strenghts: High resilience of firms and local context; high quality focus and fast-growing applications; reactive food innovation network.

RRI needs: Reduction of Agro-pharma inputs; Reduce water use; Biodiversity actions; Promote precision agriculture.

Barriers of SMEs /Industrial Actors: Limited innovation adoption; Aging of entrepreneurs leading to skills renewal and succession planning challenges within firms.

What shapes the food systems transformation in Italy?

This section shows key enabling and hindering dynamics in the Italian food systems transformation, based on a literature review comprising 93 white literature and policy documents.

Dimensions	What enables innovation	What challenges innovation
Political	Smart specialisation and regional policies, support food innovation EU funding for agri-tech and bioeconomy supports sustainable production	Bureaucratic challenges and policy misalignment slow innovation Limited support for small-scale producers restricts innovation access
Economic	Support of short food supply chains favours local producers Growing demand for sustainable and organic products boosts markets	High transition costs to sustainable practices burden SMEs Limited private investment in food innovation constrains growth
Social	Food-technology education and training address agri-food skills gaps Community-based sustainable food initiatives support local food systems	Consumer misinformation due to unclear and misleading food labelling Skill gaps in agri-tech hinder adoption of precision and traceability technologies
Technological	Investment in smart farming and digitalisation supports digital uptake Public–private agri-tech partnerships foster innovation	Slow digitalisation in agriculture due to high costs and low digital literacy Fragmented adoption of circular economy practices limits sustainable transformation

What do the key actors say?

This section summarizes key insights on barriers and enablers identified by local stakeholders representing civil society, industry, public authorities, and academia. The insights are based on 6 qualitative interviews carried out during the initial phase of the project.

CIVIL SOCIETY

Smart Specialization Strategies and EU funding,
support innovation but R&I gaps remain
Small firms face high innovation costs, while big
organizations pool resources
Education partnerships support skills and youth
entrepreneurship, but shortages persist
Living labs and innovation networks support
transition, though knowledge transfer is uneven

INDUSTRY

Complex and rigid regulation limits flexibility and
alignment with farming realities
Fragmented governance and weak infrastructure
planning reduce climate resilience
Credit guarantees support investment, but small
scale and climate risks deter investors
Collaboration with universities supports
innovation, yet applied testing and continuity
remain limited

Academia research

Funding timing shapes research, but
misalignment with industry persists
Value-chain collaboration supports applied
research, though supply constraints remain
Multi-actor networks foster knowledge exchange
and co-creation
Project-based technology transfer supports
usability, but scaling is limited

PUBLIC AUTHORITY

EU and regional frameworks support sustainability,
but bureaucracy slows implementation
Public financial instruments enable investment,
yet small farms face access barriers
Coordination networks support dialogue, though
workforce challenges persist
Digital tools and precision farming support
innovation, but clarity remains critical

Key reccomendations to accelerate the transition

The following section presents six key recommendations to accelerate the sustainable food systems transformation in Italy.

Simplify bureaucracy and policy
implementation
→ Advocate for clear procedures and faster
licensing for food innovation

Strengthen regional innovation ecosystems
→ Support clusters, bio-districts, and living labs
linking key actors

Improve access to finance for small-scale producers
→ Develop targeted financial instruments
and tailored SME support

Invest in applied research and knowledge transfer
→ Support stable funding for pilots and
research–industry collaboration

Support skills development for new generations
→ Provide training and incentives for youth
and successor farmers

Scale digital and circular solutions
→ Develop demonstration projects for
digitalization and circular practices