The final event of "Rural Connections" featured students from the Department of Agriculture at the Università Mediterranea .

On October 22, 2026, at the Fortezza da Basso, Florence hosted the final event " Let's Cultivate Tomorrow: From Field to Podcast – Young Protagonists of Rural Italy" of the Connessioni Rurali project, dedicated to the contribution of younger generations to the valorization of rural areas and the promotion of sustainable development.

The Department of Agriculture at the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria participated in the Connessioni Rurali project, which is part of the Accademia Rete PAC (Capital Network Academy), an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry to strengthen collaboration between universities, local authorities, farmers, and research centers, fostering the dissemination of best practices and the promotion of sustainable development models. In Calabria, the project was promoted for the 2025-2026 two-year period by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Calabria Region.

The event involved students and doctoral students selected from various Italian universities, offering them an important opportunity for interdisciplinary discussion and the sharing of knowledge and experiences on rural development issues. Throughout the day, participants presented the results of the workshop activities and, through specific pitches, presented the ideas and proposals developed in the working groups. The initiative represented an opportunity to leverage the skills acquired during the course and highlight the contribution of younger generations to the innovation, sustainability, and growth processes of rural areas. The students were accompanied by Professor Bruno Bernardi, delegate for the department's Third Mission and project coordinator.

At the conclusion of the initiative, Professor Marco Poiana, Director of the Department of Agriculture, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Calabria Region's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for their support and collaboration, which made participation in the Rural Connections project possible. "This experience," Poiana stated, "demonstrates the value of synergy between institutions and academia in promoting the growth of skills and the sustainable development of local communities. Investing in the education of younger generations is essential to addressing future challenges." We must continue to foster opportunities for universities, institutions, and businesses to meet and engage in dialogue, so that students and graduate students can capitalize on their acquired knowledge, develop innovative ideas, and actively contribute to the valorization of resources and the growth of rural areas.