During the spring semester, students enrolled in BUS 342W Green Marketing and CSR (Prof. Miniero) and in ENV 497 Senior Capstone Course (Prof. Della Croce) used the example and the expertise of Simbiosi – the leader environment producer in Italy – as the main practical example to show that environmentally minded practices in the agricultural and food industry can be sustainable from all points of view: socially, ecologically and economically. On the afternoon of April 26, Franklin students shared their capstone projects in the Nielsen Auditorium, including research and proposals, showcasing both the environmental and business aspects of Simbiosi solutions.   

The senior capstone research projects explored key ecological concepts in a contemporary agricultural system, identified current environmental issues, and proposed feasible solutions. Other areas of emphasis were waste management, environmental field margins, the reintroduction of biodiversity, and Agri voltaic technologies, all of which highlighted the theme of the circular economy. After the capstone student presentations, Simbiosi founder and CEO Piero Manzoni delivered a presentation of his own. Manzoni thanked students for their excellent insights, stating that their quality of research was impressive. In a speech, he posed the question: Which is the most intelligent species on Earth? He answered that it would depend on the species most likely perpetuating itself. This notion made everyone pause to think about how we, as humans, must change our current mindset and actions to ensure our own future—that GDP alone is not an accurate measurement of intelligence and survivability. Manzoni remarked that sustainability must be the way forward because any civilization that ignores sustainability will eventually collapse.  

This collaboration, spearheaded by two Academic Divisions (B&E and EMPH), highlighted the strong interdisciplinary nature of FUS and its innate vocation for experiential learning as the students interacted with a thriving, real-world business. It also fostered FUS visibility in the local and regional context and opened up possibilities for future exchanges with Simbiosi and other like-minded firms.  

  

Click here for more information about this collaboration.

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