FERMENTATION IN ITALY & JAPAN: TRADITION AND INNOVATION. A SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP IN ROME, ITALY

Organized by Borromini Institute, Gustolab International and the Food Studies College of Japan

The Borromini Institute held its inaugural Symposium/Workshop in the spring of 2023.  This Symposium, focusing on fermentation practices in Italy and Japan, extended Gustolab International’s  long-term interest in food studies to include microbial fermentation.  Recent advances in core sciences have provided us with new ways of understanding the roles of single-cell organisms in preserving food and, by drawing comparisons between Italy and Japan, we hope to build on the strengths of still viable fermentation communities in both of these cultural and environmental areas. It should be noted that while fermentation communities are experiencing a rebirth they have been placed at risk by the depopulation of rural areas in both Italy and Japan.

Transdisciplinary Dialogue: Climate Change Italy

As educators, we are obliged to help all of our students– regardless of discipline– understand the extraordinary moment in which we are living and its potential for change. For this reason, Gustolab International Italy/Borromini Institute organized the Transdisciplinary Dialogue: Climate Change Italy in Spring 2022, adhering to the Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice, of the Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College, in conjunction with partners worldwide and the Open Society University Network.

We thank our guest discussants: Claudio Bordi (architect / planner expert of European projects and Lead Expert in the European URBACT program) – “GenerACTOR project”); Andrew Kranis (architect, professor, American Academy in Rome Fellow, designer with Whole Foods USA),; Mika Hisatani (sommelier, embarking on a project dealing with the UN SDG‘s and agricultural / food chain practice in Italy); Antonio Lopez, Ph.D. (Chair & Associate Professor of Communications and Media Studies, John Cabot University); Giorgio Scavino (European Advisor DYDAS project – EU Projects Department – ANCI LAZIO); Daniel Faber, Senior Research Fellow, Global Center for Climate Justice (Boston); Manuela Mariani, Youth4Planet Lazio contact person, and Isabel Colmenares, student intern at Retake Rome.

We also thank all the students from SLDV, HWS, Sapienza University and more who participated in this dialogue.

Two generations of winegrowers, one shared path

An invitation-only side event of the 2022 Vini Selvaggi Wine Fair in Rome, “Two generations of winegrowers, one shared path” is a discussion with winemakers from two different generations who will discuss topics ranging from agriculture to sustainability while taking into consideration the impact of economic, ecological and cultural changes over time. Moderated by communicator and narrator Matteo Gallello. Speakers will include: Marino Colleoni of Podere Sante Marie, Elena Pantaleoni of La Stoppa, Theo Zierock of Foradori, Giampiero Ventura of Le Quattro Volte, and Silvia Tezza of Il Roccolo di Monticelli.

The event will be held at Borromini Institute/Gustolab International in collaboration with YPR, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Rome Center, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges Rome Center.

Rise for the record – Rise against Hunger

To show commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #2, Gustolab International partnered with Rise Against Hunger Italy during the ‘Rise for the Record’ event that took place on World Food Day (October 16) in 2018. The event simultaneously took place in multiple locations around the world with volunteers who assembled Rise Against Hunger’s hunger relief packages in just 5 minutes. The event in Rome included students from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Washington, Roma Tre University, UNINT, ISIA and the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci in Rome.  Students then had an activity where they learned about the Sustainable Development Goals and specifically Goal #2 Zero Hunger.

Our partner, Rise Against Hunger celebrated its first 20 years of commitment and actions against hunger in the occasion of the event.

SDGs For All Majors

During summer 2018, we organized an interactive event entitled SDGs For All Majors with students from the Summer 2018 Auburn University Mediterranean Diet Program, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Summer and Internship Program and the UMass Amherst Critical Studies on Food in Italy program.
The goal of the event was to promote dialogue regarding the SDGs and sustainability among professors and students from different departments and universities. The results of the discussions will be summarized in a publication that we will share with our networks at the end of 2018. The event was part of the Festival dello Sviluppo Sostenibile 2018, European Sustainable Development Week 2018 and CEREALIA – La Festa dei Cereali 2018 programmes.

Our speakers were: Michael Greene, PhD (Auburn University); Alice Julier, PhD (Chatham University); Ferro Trabalzi, PhD (GLi); Marko Zivkovic, PhD (University of Alberta); Roberta Baldazzi (Rise Against Hunger Italy); Frank Mangan, PhD (University of Massachusetts); Paola Sarcina (Cerealia Festival Director).

Seventh International Conference on Food Studies

The Seventh International Conference on Food Studies was hosted by Gustolab International and Roma Tre University on October 26 and 27, 2017 in Rome, Italy. The two days included paper presentations, workshops/interactive sessions, posters, and colloquia. 225+ delegates from all over the world attended and over 33 countries were represented. 

Founded in 2011, the International Conference on Food Studies provides a forum for research and practice-based discussions, in a time of growing public and research awareness of the relations among diet, health, and social well-being. The conference provides an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of: agricultural, environmental, nutritional, social, economic, and cultural perspectives on food. 

Food+City Jeffersonian Dinner – Reimagining the Last Food Mile

In 2017, we collaborated with Food+City to organize a Jeffersonian Dinner.  Key thought leaders were invited to discuss how we can improve the food supply chain.  In 2017,  Food + City held these dinner discussions in three cities, Austin, Rome, and New York City.

Food EXPOsures: 10 Food Stories

Between May and October 2015, we organized 10 events about food in Rome and Milan to celebrate 10 years of activities and the EXPO 2015.

In Rome, we hosted the following events: Food for Security, Food for Education, Food for Better Future, Food for Tradition, Food for Health, Food for Ecology, Food for Learning, Food for Gender, Food for the Territory, Food for All and the City. 

Event with Ben Simon – Food Recovery Network

Gustolab International partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Rome in designing and organizing a series of events related to the EXPO 2015.

On May 22, 2015 GLi held an event with Ben Simon, Founder and Executive Director of the Food Recovery Network. 

Round Table with Marion Nestle – Food Politics 2015: Issues and Controversies

On May 8, 2015, Marion Nestle, Paulette Goddard Professor at the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health and Professor of Sociology at New York University gave a talk at the round table on ‘Food Politics 2015: Issues and Controversies’ in Rome. This event was organized in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy to Italy.