Homepage — Agricultural and Food Sciences

The cherry genetic improvement research group analyses the fruit at the cherry evaluation plots of the Cadriano Experimental Teaching Centre, in the Province of Bologna

Agriculture, food, and environment

Producing food sustainably, protecting natural resources and addressing the challenges of climate change.

We are building the future through knowledge

  • Agrifood
  • Agronomy
  • Arboriculture
  • Crops
  • Precision farming
  • Soil
  • Agricultural genetics
  • Enology
  • Microbiology
  • Food
  • Food safety
  • Animal science
  • Beverages
  • Plant diseases
  • Entomology
  • Water resources
  • Bioeconomy
  • Agricultural innovation

Events

Seminar

2 November 2026

Erasmus+: Environmental, forestry and territory projects

Partnership and innovation opportunities for students and local projects linked to the environment forests and the territory

Seminar

4 November 2026

Nature-based solutions for the restoration of lowland ecosystems and water quality: LIFE Green4Blue

Seminar in the LM PROGESA series on the LIFE Green4Blue project

Meeting
Chef plating

8 November 2026

Food safety: what research teaches us and the challenges ahead

In 2026, DISTAL was once again invited to take part in Agorà Festival, a prestigious cultural event in Cesena

Workshop
Drawing of a beehive surrounded by bees and plants

9 November 2026

Murmurs in the Hive

Dialogues between Biology, Literature and Music

News

EU Horizon Project: REDESIGN project at the Vertical Farming World Congress 2026

Professor Francesco Orsini presented “How to measure and communicate vertical farming sustainability” in London and visited the REDESIGN living lab

Internazionale

DISTAL at the 32nd International Horticultural Congress in Kyoto

Ten oral presentations, three posters and a wide range of international activities for researchers from the ResCUE-AB group

Innovazione e ricerca

OpenDISTAL is back!

Join us in Bologna on September 24, 2026!

About us

DISTAL contributes to the development of the agri-food system through research, training and knowledge transfer, taking an integrated approach that encompasses the environment, people and the local area.

Find out more

153

Competitive research projects between 2022 and 2024.

40

Active patents in 2024.

90,8%

Per cent of graduates who find employment within three years of graduation.

15

Degree programmes, including 3 international ones.
Vertical farming with leds. Viale Fanin 46, Bologna. Research activity and monitoring

From academic research to scientific dissemination

DISTAL’s research activities follow a path that extends from a PhD degree to scientific dissemination, emphasising quality, interdisciplinarity and the impact of the results on society.

The PhD programme at DISTAL

Find out about the PhD programme in Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences and Technologies.

Research within the department

The Research Areas in which new knowledge is being developed.

Services for organisations and enterprises

The department’s research expertise applied directly in the field.

Disseminating scientific knowledge

The department promotes scientific awareness through events aimed at the general public.

Arboriculture: genetic improvement projects

Thanks to our field Research, we select new varieties of fruit trees, in particular cherry, pear, apple and kiwi.

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An illustration of the department’s Research Areas

Job opportunities, calls and contracting

Opportunities for professional development, training and collaboration offered by the Department. (in Italian)

Find out how