Mission
The sustainable management of agri-food and forestry systems and precision agriculture are multi-disciplinary issues that transversally involve various subjects from the industrial to the agro-forestry and food sectors.
The rapid development and diffusion of technological innovations require an equally rapid adaptation of current production and transformation models for their profitable introduction.
There are various areas of research that concern the economic, engineering, environmental, energy, production organization and qualitative-quantitative performance aspects of production. In all these areas, innovation requires both the conception of new applications and services and the improvement of the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of existing ones.
The Doctorate in "Advanced and sustainable agricultural-forestry systems" (SAFAS) implements a high-level training course that aims to train Research Doctors whose scientific and technical qualifications are attractive to academic institutions, public and private bodies and companies, in the field national and international.
The Doctorate aims to raise the standard of the third university training cycle by training PhDs capable of conducting advanced and highly innovative research at an international level but also with important implications on the Tuscan and national territory. At the end of the training course, the Ph.D will have high-profile technological, agronomic, zootechnical and engineering skills, which will allow improving productivity, sustainability and quality of agricultural-forestry and agri-food production.
The doctoral program involves the participation of various national and international research groups to provide continuous updating on research developments. Below is a first-level description of the main research themes of each group. Links take you to group pages which provide more details about the research activities and the people involved.
Spectroscopic and spectrophotometric characterization of food matrices with a view to traceability, quality and safety. Analysis of soils for the determination of paramagnetic metals, radical species and humic acids. Determination of antioxidant activity and quality of food matrices. Use of agricultural and marine waste from a circular economy perspective for the production of innovative biodegradable and compostable materials such as mulching film and fertilizers.
AgroHydrological Sensing and Modeling Laboratory - UNIPI
Workbenches equipped for the calibration/validation of agrohydrological sensors and for hands-on teaching activities with open source electronics. Workstation for distributed agrohydrological modeling applications.
High-throughput screening (HTS) modular system for the crop drought and salinity stress response modelling for the modelling of root water drawing functions. High performance tensio-psychometric system for determining the conductivity and water retention curves of soils.
Machine to machine communication, Human to machine communications, WebGIS e Apps, smart farming technologies, proximal sensing, SAPR, Variable rate technologies, experimental testing, technology prototyping, ISO testing, technology transfer, field demonstrations, mechanization & safety.
Joint laboratory on R&D between AgrismartLAB (UNIFI), Nobili Spa agricultural machinery and Copernico srl
Environmental and cultural monitoring. The laboratory is also equipped with skills for the application of simulation models of the bio-physical processes of cropping systems.
Physiological and molecular analysis of cells and plants under abiotic stress. Optical and electronic microscopy. Analysis instruments such as Licor LI-6800, PCR, electrophoresis and protein purification.
Research centre that has 100 hectares of arable land dedicated to experimentation; long-term experiments on organic farming, agroforestry, conservative management methods of organic matter in the soil; experimental breeding of dairy cattle and experimental breeding of beef cattle; automatic systems for detecting methane emitted by ruminants; sensors for detecting the productive and reproductive activity of animals.
Google Map The centre has 10 ha of irrigable experimental fields and a greenhouse. Furthermore, there are 42 lysimeters and equipment for testing in 1 m3 cultivation boxes. The structure also includes a field laboratory equipped for surveys.
Study of the dynamics of light use by agricultural crops in the open field and indoors using non-invasive techniques. Impact of environmental factors on physiological and biochemical parameters connected to the photosynthetic apparatus of species of botanical, agricultural and forestry interest.
Forest Geomatics Laboratory (geoLAB), innovative tools for inventory forest surveys, GNSS and total station, photogrammetric drone, remote sensing, geographical databases.
The laboratory conducts studies at an ecophysiological, biochemical and molecular level of the responses of plants of agricultural interest to stresses of various kinds (biotic and abiotic) in order to identify sustainable defence approaches. The expertise relating to early phytopathological diagnosis through the use of multi- and hyperspectral sensors and cameras is considerable.
Imprese2030 is the sustainability performance analysis and evaluation tool that can be used by companies in the agri-food sector and was developed by the Santa Chiara Lab of the University of Siena. Imprese2030 is a digital self-assessment service that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of corporate sustainability strategies and provides a holistic picture of sustainability performance useful for supporting companies in defining new strategies, investments and activities.
Laboratorio di Elettronica, Misurazioni Elettriche ed Elettroniche
It hosts research in the field of electronic circuits and systems, the development of measurement systems, and the development and characterization of innovative devices and sensors, with specific expertise on distributed and pervasive monitoring systems based on autonomous or low-power sensor nodes, especially for the detection of gases. The laboratory is equipped with the instruments and IT tools necessary for the development of electronic systems. It also has the availability of equipment for the development of prototype sensors. Finally, in the laboratory, there is a system for the characterization of gas sensors.
Extraction and chemical characterization of nutraceutical components in plant matrices. Spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques for the qualitative-quantitative characterization of plant matrices and for the determination of geographical origin. Study of high-yield agricultural and agro-industrial systems.
The laboratory has 4 experimental greenhouses (approximately 1000 m2) equipped with closed-cycle soilless cultivation systems, an ecophysiology laboratory equipped with portable systems for measuring the water status and photosynthesis of plants, a chemical laboratory for the evaluation of nutritional status , nutraceutical and chemical contamination of horticultural products.
Observatory of Non-Financial Declarations and Sustainable Practices
the observatory was born from the partnership between the Department of Business and Legal Studies of the University of Siena and Sustainability Makers - the professional network (formerly CSR Manager Network), the Italian association that brings together over 200 professionals dedicated to sustainability strategies and projects Sustainability.
The activities carried out by the observatory are however the result of inter-university collaboration and dialogue between associations, institutions, financiers and businesses. The observatory allows direct access to the NFS published annually by Italian companies through a database. Furthermore, the observatory analyzes the DNFs collected with the aim of examining the evolution of corporate sustainability reporting practices.
The DNF observatory has designed and makes accessible to each user an interactive dashboard that allows the salient characterizing features of the sustainability reporting of Italian companies to be detected through various summary infographics.
The observatory adopts an Open Data & Accessibility as well as a multidisciplinary, multistakeholder and international approach.
Equipped with instrumentation suitable for the physical, chemical and molecular characterization of soils.
Seed analysis and control activities, research on seed eco-physiology, development of analytical methods and treatments to improve seed quality. Agronomic research on local ecotypes of species of agricultural interest, research support, varietal establishment and multiplication, teaching internships, degree and doctoral theses. It manages the Section of the Regional Germplasm Bank of the Tuscany Region.
Conventional and molecular early diagnostics, instrumentation for the molecular identification of pathogens directly in situ, instrumentation for precision pesticide treatments, laminar flow hoods, stereomicroscopes, microscopes, technical and analytical scales, thermo cyclers.
Analysis of chemical-biochemical processes connected to the soil-plant system in relation to environmental variables and agronomic inputs. Evaluation of the nutritional and nutraceutical status of fruit and vegetables with a view to the sustainable management of agri-food crops.
Equipped with food quality analysis systems in liquid and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry; in vitro fermentation systems for the evaluation of food digestibility and the production of methane, ammonia and hydrogen gases.
Monitoring of water, nutritional status and biophysical parameters in vineyards and orchards through proximity measurements (sensors for plant and soil monitoring) and remotely (satellites and drones). Research and technology transfer activities at commercial companies located throughout the Tuscan territory.
ISO8589 sensory analysis. Software management for the management and collection of data from implicit tests and for electrophysiological measurements.
Fondazione Siena Food Lab ETS (Ente del Terzo Settore)
Created by the Monte dei Paschi di Siena Foundation and the Santa Chiara Lab of the University of Siena, it supports the development of the Sienese agri-food sector, through the diffusion of technological and organizational innovation within the company, the creation of employment opportunities for the new generations and training. Its activities focus on the topics of precision agriculture, environmental, social and economic sustainability and the traceability of internal processes and the origin of production.
Last update
20.02.2025