A case study of a micro-enterprise in Piedmont, Italy
Ferrero Enrica, Ferrero Giulia, Ghignone Elisa, Motta Martina, and Ruffa Marco
COVID-19 recalled the importance of local products and the limitations of globalized agriculture, food and health, questioning current production methods. In the fruit sector, traditional and organic crops are being rediscovered, but these must be confronted with the aesthetic standards of the current market, which generates significant amounts of second-rate fruit. These are fruits that cannot be sold because their appearance does not meet aesthetic standards and therefore companies have to make other uses of them. Climate change also affects the amount of second-rate and non-edible food, increasing food waste throughout the supply chain. Systemic design can therefore fit in not only to plan reuse of these foods but also to create new value on the territory. Understanding the specificities of the area and the actors involved is essential to define new opportunities and adapt the systemic design.
As a case study, the farm Magnarosa was explored as part of the Open System course of the “Aurelio Peccei” Master’s Degree in Systemic Design at the Politecnico di Torino. The farm is located in a small rural area in Piedmont, Italy, with a very strong identity. It is a young, family-run micro-enterprise specialised in organic production, mainly of fruit.
Keywords: systemic design, holistic diagnosis, agricultural sector, ecosystem services, micro-enterprises
