Agricultural, Environmental and Rural Studies

Founded by Andrea Segrè¹, the Research Group on Agricultural, Environmental and Rural Studies (AERS) is coordinated by Matteo Vittuari² and composed of a number of experts with multidisciplinary backgrounds. The Research Group takes also into account of a Secretariat (ref. Francesca Regoli³), which provides scientific and administrative support to the Research Group and acts as the main point of contact and the principal channel for AERS and its members. It also provides organizational support for meetings and workshops.

The AERS Research Group investigates the multi-faced dimension of sustainable development in agricultural, rural and coastal areas (i.e. the ecological, the social, the economic and the international dimension) with particular emphasis placed on Central Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Regional policies and interregional East-West relationship are also a strong field of interest.

The AERS Research Group is engaged in teaching, research and advisory work on environmental issues and rural and agricultural development. The Group supplies also ad hoc research, feasibility studies, market research, and offers analysis and advice for governmental, nongovernmental and international organization.

For further information please contact:
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tel.: +39-051-2096161

The field of research of the Study Group includes the following areas:

• agricultural and rural policy analysis and evaluation
• social and economical transformations of agricultural and rural areas
• poverty and socio-economic security
• identification of the main trends in the agricultural and rural space
• management of rural resources and natural resource conflicts
• changes in the rural areas of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans
• bioenergy

Other activities of the Study Group:

• didactic activities
• training activities (Master Courses, Courses of Specialization, Summer Schools)
• ad hoc seminars, workshops and conferences
• project management

Research projects (past three years):

• BiomAlba – Analysis and Feasibility Study of a Biomass Chain in Albania, Academic Year 2008/09
• BiomAdria – Usage of Biomass as a Primary Energy Source in the Adriatic Countries, Academic Year 2007/08
• N.A.P. - Network of Adriatic Parks, Academic Year 2007/08
• Project NetWet2 Waternet Telematic Platform: “Networking Perspectives of Transnational Co-operation and Participatory Planning for Integrated Water Resource Management - Academic Year 2007/08

Training Activities (past three years):

• PhD Programme in International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policies - 6th Edition in the Academic Year 2008/09 (Collaboration)
• II Level Master Degree in Sustainable Development of Agricultural and Rural Areas of the Adriatic-Ionian Basin - Academic Year 2008/09 (Coordination)
• Course of Specialization in Agricultural and Rural Development Policies Analysis in the Western Balkan Countries – Academic Year 2007/08 (Coordination)
• Graduate Summer School in International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policies - 5th Edition in the Academic Year 2007/08 (Coordination)
• I Level Master Degree in Sustainable Development of Agricultural and Rural Areas of the Adriatic-Ionian Basin - Academic Year 2005/06 (Coordination)

(Notes to the text)

1 Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bologna (www.andreasegre.it).

2 He completed his Laurea in Economics at the University of Bologna where he received also a PhD in International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policies with a dissertation on agricultural and rural development policies with a specific focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He has been visitor researcher in a number of universities and research institutions, including FAPRI – Food and Agricultural Research Institute – University of Missoury (Colombia, 2007 and 2008), the K.U. Leuven (Leuven, 2004), University of Banja Luka (Banja Luka, 2007 and 2008). He is collaborating since several years with the UniAdrion Network on different projects of cooperation related to the Adriatic-Ionian Basin and with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Engineering of Faculty of Agriculture – University of Bologna.

He is specialized in agricultural and rural development policies related fields with a specific focus on Central Eastern Europe and the Balkans: agricultural and rural policy analysis and evaluation; social and economical transformations of agricultural and rural areas; poverty and socio-economic security; identification of the main trends in the agricultural and rural space; agricultural and rural areas transformation; bioenergy. Most of his research activities and publications are on agricultural and rural change in Central Eastern Europe and the Balkans, European integration issues, multifunctional role of agriculture, bioenergy.

3 She completed her Degree in Political Science – international specialization at the University of Bologna with relevant study experience in Romania and Republic of Moldova; she is now PhD student in International Cooperation and Sustainable Development Policies - University of Bologna.
She worked several years for the Executive Secretariat of UniAdrion Network on different projects of cooperation related to the Adriatic-Ionian Basin.
She is now collaborating with the Faculty of Agriculture – University of Bologna on several training and research projects focused on sustainable development policies for agricultural and rural areas of the Balkan region.