Unibo and BF Educational: the first students of the master course that trains expert agronomists are announced

The graduation ceremony for the awarding of diplomas to the students of the Second Level Master’s Degree in “Design and Management of Modern, Sustainable and Technologically Advanced Cropping Systems” was held today at the BF Educational campus in Jolanda di Savoia (FE). This program is the result of a collaboration between the University of Bologna and BF Educational, with the support of the Alma Mater Foundation (FAM).

This postgraduate program aims to train professional agronomists capable of designing and managing cutting-edge, sustainable cropping systems primarily oriented toward the production of raw materials for the non-food industry, including advanced biofuels. The event – introduced by BF SpA President Prof. Michele Pisante and UNIBO Rector Prof. Giovanni Molari – saw the participation of the Master’s Director Prof. Andrea Monti, lecturers Prof. Claudio Marzadori and Prof. Attilio Toscano, and the CEO of BF Educational Francesco Pugliese.

The case studies presented covered topics addressed during the educational program and internship experiences within BF Group companies. The titles of the final Master's theses:

• “Rice straw and sustainability: from field to biofuels” – (Dr. Felicia Adduci);

• “Irrigation and nutritional management of tomatoes with DSS Irriframe: comparison between Kc and vegetative indices” – (Dr. Salvatore Cannova);
• “Valorization of degraded lands: the role of energy crops” – (Dr. Silvia Caronia);
• “Technical analysis of camera traps for monitoring Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner, 1796) and Sesamia spp. (Guénée, 1852) in maize cultivation” – (Dr. Roberto Mondini);
• “Analysis of the variability of herbaceous cropping systems using remote sensing data – Case study in Sicily – (Dr. Gabriele Moser);
• “Carbon farming practices for more sustainable biofuel value chains” – (Dr. Juan Jose Ortega);
• “Progetto Italia: collaboration to develop an agro-industrial supply chain for energy use on national territory” – (Dr. Miriana Pipitone).

In the afternoon, the diploma awarding ceremony was chaired by the Rector Prof. Giovanni Molari, in the presence of UNIBO faculty members, representatives of BF Educational, BF SpA, and guests attending the event. "It is with great satisfaction that we award diplomas today to the first students of the Master’s program created and coordinated with the University of Bologna. This is a unique training program in Italy for its professional value and innovative approach. The Master is the result of BF Educational’s ongoing commitment to education and research, which has already enabled us to work with leading institutions in the fields of culture and education" – said BF Educational’s CEO Francesco Pugliese.

"Our main objective is to promote employment, especially among young people, through a high-quality educational offering that is essential to train professionals required by the BF Group and, more generally, by the agriculture sector in Italy and abroad. We aim to drive a paradigm shift for agriculture, which can represent a valid and rewarding career path for ambitious and highly skilled individuals." "I am extremely pleased with this first edition of the Master’s program – said Master’s Director Andrea Monti – which represents a rare and virtuous example of collaboration between business and university – something our young graduates greatly need. I must highlight the commitment and high professionalism of BF Educational in providing facilities, resources and highly qualified personnel, efficiently addressing all the needs that arose during the course. The program, lasting approximately six months between classes and internships, was tackled by the students with dedication and commitment: an ambitious and demanding path, carried out within the BF Educational Campus in Jolanda di Savoia, which allowed them to live a unique experience of great professional and personal growth. Furthermore – added Andrea Monti – the theses presented today by the candidates demonstrate a high level of learning, validating the effectiveness of the educational offering and, above all, the outstanding quality of both lecturers and tutors. Not least, I am proud to announce that all candidates have already received permanent employment contracts during the internship phase of the Master. Of course, everything can be improved, and in this second edition, we have already included some changes to further enhance the program’s quality. We are confident that the next edition will also deliver great satisfaction and professional growth."

Through an advanced educational pathway built around selected subjects, the Master in “Design and Management of Modern, Sustainable and Technologically Advanced Cropping Systems” trains professionals capable of optimizing the production of resilient, innovative and highly diversified herbaceous cropping systems. This is achieved by identifying suitable species, varieties and agronomic practices for specific agro-environmental and industrial contexts, and by applying the most modern IT technologies for agriculture. These skills are increasingly necessary in today’s critical context, where climate change and the energy crisis require greater attention to soil fertility preservation, efficient use of water resources, and environmental protection.

The goal is to meet the growing demand from the bio-based industry for renewable raw materials, including biofuels. Given the success of the first edition of the Master, enrollment is now open for the second edition: the application deadline is December 30, 2024. The Master provides 60 academic credits and includes a curriculum consisting of 252 hours of classroom lectures and 300 hours of internship/project work. The objective is to enable students to acquire the necessary know-how and develop technical-practical skills through direct field experience. The lessons take place in the modern BF Educational Campus in Jolanda di Savoia (FE) and, thanks to the provision of scholarships, room and board expenses are fully covered.