The Fooder project has given rise to the Fooder association, officially established in Parma with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the signature of 18 founding members: universities, research centres and companies have joined forces to promote advanced training and innovation in the agri-food sector.

• Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna

• Università degli Studi di Ferrara

• Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

• Università di Parma

• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

• Barilla G. e R. Fratelli – S.P.A.

• Casoni Fabbricazione Liquori S.P.A.

• Cesena Fiera S.P.A.

• Clust-ER Agrifood della Regione Emilia-Romagna

• Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali, CRPA Soc. Cons. P.A.

• GEA Procomac S.P.A.

• Gesco Soc. Coop. Agr. (Gruppo Amadori)

• Acetaia Giusti S.R.L.

• Granterre S.P.A.

• Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano

• Surgital S.P.A.

• Stazione Sperimentale per l’Industria delle Conserve Alimentari – Fondazione di ricerca

• Unione Parmense degli Industriali

The foundation of the association is closely linked to the namesake project, funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region with a €3 million contribution, alongside €1.5 million in co-funding from the participating universities for the 2022–2026 period.
 

The association is based at the University of Parma, which has made the food sector one of its strategic and identity-defining pillars, recognised for its scientific and educational excellence both nationally and internationally. The official presentation of Fooder took place in Parma on 15 April with a press conference in the University’s Aula Magna.
 

Speakers included: Paolo Martelli, Rector of the University of Parma; Vincenzo Colla, Vice-President of the Emilia-Romagna Region; Gianni Galaverna, member of the Fooder Executive Board representing the University of Parma and, more broadly, the participating universities and research bodies; Roberto Ciati, member of the Fooder Executive Board representing Barilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A. and, more broadly, the companies and consortia involved in the initiative.

Also in attendance were representatives of all the founding members.
 

The key concept is system-building. The aim is to create a network to promote innovation in the Emilia-Romagna agri-food sector by strengthening the international, inter-university educational offering in English, attracting talent and experts from around the world and enhancing the immense value of the Food Valley of Emilia-Romagna – a region of international excellence, holding the European record for PDO and PGI products, and home to companies known worldwide for combining tradition and innovation, with high standards of quality and food safety.
 

The initiative leverages a high-level regional ecosystem in education and research to prepare professionals who can compete in the global labour market, creating new opportunities for growth and employment, and fostering youth entrepreneurship.
 

The message to young talents is clear: come to Emilia-Romagna, where you will learn and be equipped to face global challenges in the agri-food sector. You will grow professionally and personally in an inclusive, open and stimulating environment, acquiring the skills and authority to lead transformation processes, study and propose innovative solutions, and contribute to shaping a better future.
 

Fooder, a unique project at the national level, sets itself up as a virtuous example of integration between higher education and research, the production system and regional governance.
 

How? Through close collaboration between universities, research institutions and businesses to jointly identify training needs and co-design educational pathways. The aim is to foster productive interaction that includes not only university lecturers but also professionals from the field, offering students experiential learning opportunities within academic institutions as well as in companies. Students will also gain access to demonstrators and pilot plants, promoting interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral learning by drawing on top expertise from a wide range of fields – all with positive impacts for every stakeholder involved.
 

This means new international degree courses, joint inter-university Master’s programmes, doctoral training, advanced education tailored for enterprises, lifelong learning initiatives, and more.
 

Fooder also aims to promote and support research groups and infrastructures, facilitating interactions with research and industrial partners on both national and international levels, investing in strategic projects and encouraging cooperation between companies to build networks for developing new capacities and technologies in a pre-competitive framework.
 

The initiative is structured around three pillars: Food Sustainability, Food Security, and Food Safety, and spans a wide range of focus areas: from sustainable and precision agriculture to the quality of raw materials; from food law and international policies to food quality, safety and authenticity; from machinery and equipment for the agri-food industry to nutrition and health; from traceability and packaging to agri-food economics, food microbiology, product/process innovation and optimisation, and the valorisation of by-products and food industry waste – and much more.
 

There are many advantages for universities, which will be able to update and innovate their educational offerings to meet current and future global challenges in the agri-food sector, work collaboratively with businesses on objectives and methods, and better prepare students for the world of work. Internationalisation will also be boosted through the development of English-language programmes, as well as internships, theses and doctoral research projects carried out in close partnership with companies.
 

The benefits for companies are equally significant: direct access to global talent pools to identify the professionals of tomorrow, multidisciplinary research to support innovation in the agri-food sector, and opportunities for targeted training for professionals on emerging topics and sector-specific challenges.
 

Fooder is open to new members: public institutions, universities, companies (including innovative start-ups) and private organisations whose missions align with the association’s goals are all eligible to join.