ITS Academy Giulio Natta hosts the Italian dissemination event of ACE-EX (Agriculture Circular Economy Expert), an Erasmus+ project that has developed cutting-edge training pathways for the ecological transition in the wine, olive oil and cereal sectors, bringing together 20 partners across 9 European and non-European countries.
On Wednesday 27 May 2026, from 10:00 am, ITS Academy Giulio Natta (Via Gandhi 12, Treviolo, Bergamo) hosts the national dissemination event of ACE-EX (Agriculture Circular Economy Expert), a project funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, with ITS Academy Giulio Natta serving as lead partner. The event is part of a series of national events organised simultaneously by project partners across their respective countries, with the aim of presenting the project’s results to strategic local stakeholders and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the training pathways developed.
ACE-EX was built on a clear premise: the shift towards a circular economy in agriculture demands skills that are new, structured and formally certified. The project has developed a multidisciplinary curriculum to train a new professional figure, the expert in the application of circular economy processes in agriculture, holding a European-recognised qualification and available in a flexible, largely online format. The programme has been designed for direct applicability in the wine, olive oil and cereal sectors, treating agricultural by-products and surpluses as raw material for new commercial processes and innovative products.
The conference opens with institutional greetings from Giuseppe Nardiello, President of Fondazione ITS Academy Giulio Natta, followed by a presentation of the project’s results and future scenarios for the ecological transition delivered by Carmen Fusilli, Head of Placement and Project Manager of ACE-EX. The technical session on the ACE-EX training platform then brings together contributions from Vladimiro Guindani on nutraceutical applications in cosmetics, Fabio Mazzarella on 3D printing and green sustainability, Mauro Adovasio on biochemical processes for valorising agricultural waste through green chemistry, and Erina Guraziu on management and transversal competences for the circular economy.
The morning continues with a hands-on demonstration of immersive learning using VR headsets, led by D’adda and Fabio Mazzarella, one of the most distinctive pedagogical innovations to emerge from the project. Vittoria Signori, Innovation and R&D Director at Beauty & Business, then presents a corporate case study on practical sustainability pathways within the local business community. Andrea Colleoni, lecturer at ITS Academy Natta, addresses the macroeconomic landscape and the global challenges of industrial sustainability, before Luigi Bosio of Cooperativa Erica contributes a broad perspective on sustainability across its full dimensions. Carmen Fusilli closes the proceedings with concluding remarks.
The event is open to agricultural and agri-food sector professionals, educators and trainers, entrepreneurs, and representatives of public institutions and local bodies.
ACE-EX (Agriculture Circular Economy Expert) is funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme The project brings together 20 partners from 9 countries and represents over 200,000 agricultural businesses across Europe.