A doctorate is the highest academic degree in the Italian education system, and is awarded to those who have acquired the necessary knowledge and abilities enabling them to carry out high level research at universities, public organisations, and in the private sector.

In the last few years the agro-Food system has undergone a faster and faster development. Innovation has affected different aspects of the ‘from farm to fork' system, namely the biological-productive, economic-management and legal ones, thus leading to the creation of specific national and European Bodies protecting consumers, as well as to the need of training new professionals with transverse skills involving the different disciplines.

That is why a Doctoral School on the Agro-Food sector was founded in 2006 with the support of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Economics and Law of  Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Piacenza and the sponsorship of Fondazione di Piacenza and Vigevano.

The school both aims to carry out research and to develop know-how as well as to allow the exchange of information and the promotion of innovative ideas.

Why Agrisystem?

Agrisystem represents an innovative and unique experience in Italy. By means of a close integration of research and training it aims to train future experts in the field; professionals with skills going across the biology-agriculture- economics and law sector, able to meet the new demands of the companies working in the Agro-Food sector.

Interdisciplinary training and research, as well as the international approach ranging from the European to the world systems, are the key factors of research in the Agro-Food sectors as well as in the Doctoral School.

The main strengths of the schooll are:

► Multisectoriality: 2 scientific-disciplinary areas and 8 fieds of research

► Interdisciplinarity: both for training and interaction of phd students and researchers of different faculties

► Internationalisation: made possible by a strong network of high-level cooperation of universities and international research centres.

The school will enable to pursue the following objectives:

1. a training objective, to educate motivated young people to scientific research methodologies;
2. an economic objective, thanks to innovative research, with an impact on the territory, enhancing the promotion of the scientific research.

The mission of the school is the scientific training of young skilled researchers able to operate:

• in research;
• in international bodies;
• as managers of companies, national and local bodies.

The presence, in Emilia Romagna and Lombardia, of public institutions and companies  strictly connected with the Agro-Food system are significant opportunities for such professionals.

Internationalization

Phd students are expected to carry out a mandatory research internship abroad or  at international organisations with  Italian headquarters.The duration of the internship 6 months at least, will depend on the needs of the host organisation and on the research project.