Back to earth yes, but taking full advantage of new technologies. Who better than young people can lend themselves to this trend? According to what emerged at the Agrogeneration event, organized at the headquarters of the University of Catania by the Ministry of Agricultural Policies in collaboration with the "Crea and Future Food Institute", the Italians under 40 are reacting to the job crisis by returning to agriculture, but they no longer do it like their grandparents.
Even what was once called the primary sector has in fact entered the era of startups and highly sophisticated technologies that can also be used in agriculture, cultivation and fishing. From space studies to food production to land surveying drones, from the use of recycled food materials for 3D printers to water use optimization systems to precision machines for controls, all of this can be applied to the agri-food sector.
Istat also confirms the trend, according to which 20 thousand under 40s found work in the agricultural sector in 2015, with an increase of 16% compared to the previous year, while enrollments in Agriculture faculties rose by 44%. throughout Italy, testifying that agriculture is a choice for the future.
The Catania event was entirely focused on new opportunities for the under 40srelated to innovation in food production. During the two days held at the end of July, many students, farmers, companies, experts and startuppers met and also discussed proposals on global food challenges. In fact, agriculture and agri-food are no longer faded trades of the past.
On the contrary. For example, young people under 40 are the researchers of Argotec, an aerospace engineering company in Turin, which created the first capsule coffee machine, which allowed Samantha Cristoforetti to drink her first espresso in orbit. In recent years Argotec has been chosen by the European Aerospace Agency as responsible for the supply of space food on the International Space Station.
To face this ambitious technological challenge, in 2010 Argotec independently developed the startup Space Food Lab, the only European laboratory for the production of food to be consumed in Space. The group, led by David Avino, started from the training and certification of astronauts, today it is also involved in the agri-food sector.
