Sonia
Massari


Sonia Massari
Director Future Food Academy

Sonia Massari is the Academic Director at the Future Food Academy. .Dr. Sonia Massari has more than 20 years of experience as an educator,  researcher, consultant, and designer in the fields of human-food interaction design, sustainability education, design thinking and creative methods for innovative agri-food systems. She currently is a Research Fellow at Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (PAGE) at the University of Pisa; senior consultant at the Barilla Foundation and co-founder of the FORK Food Design Organization,  an international no-profit organization dedicated to food+design. Professor at ISIA Design School – graduate course: “Design for sustainable  scenarios”-   she taught for 5 years at Roma Tre University – a graduate course called “Sustainability Design Thinking” (from 2017 to 2022). In addition, she is a faculty member and visiting professor in several European universities (New School, RBS, BBS, ESTHE, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign; UMASS Amherst, to mention a few). She holds a Ph.D. in Food Experience Design from the Engineering Department at the University of Florence and she has authored 50+ publications in scientific journals, reports, books, as well as articles in magazines. The title of her last book is: “Trans-disciplinary Case Studies on Design for Food and Sustainability” (2021, Elsevier). She is Vice President of ASFS ( Association for the Study of Food and Society), and serves on the editorial board of the International Journal on Food Design.

COURSES

Being able to “connect the dots” to design and innovate food processes, systems, and products. How do we harness creativity and technology to address today’s agribusiness challenges? How can we generate cultural and social innovation through design? This module introduces the Design method applied to the world of food and agriculture, where the designer is increasingly involved in re-designing the value chain of food systems. This module analyzes transdisciplinary and successful case studies on food and design, using the Empathy-Systems Thinking Mindset and toolkit for the Food Sector. The course delves into sustainable food production and waste valorization. Participants will discover strategies to reduce food waste, optimize resource utilization, and promote eco-friendly practices in the food industry. The course emphasizes the value of utilizing food by-products and waste streams to establish a circular economy model.

Food Innovation and Regeneration

This module offers a comprehensive examination on strategies and frameworks that foster innovation within organizations. How to practically apply an ecosystem approach that embraces diversity and prosperity? From Stage and Gate to Systems Thinking. This module introduces how to solve problems, but more importantly, how to identify opportunities and dynamics in an innovation process; learn how to manage it by leveraging user-centered analysis, co-creation techniques, and scientific and lean procedures of food development. The course explores with practical examples in the food industry, the application of design thinking, agile, stage-gate and lean startup as prominent methodologies for innovation.  The course also examines the role of organizational culture in fostering innovation. The course emphasizes the importance of creating an innovation-friendly culture that encourages experimentation, embraces failure as a learning opportunity, and rewards entrepreneurial behavior. Participants will be equipped with practical tools and frameworks to drive innovation within organizations and navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing business environment.

Food Innovation and Regeneration