On 17 July 2025, Tecno International, in collaboration with the Italian Consulate General in London, UCL School of Management, and British American Tobacco (BAT), hosted the high-level forum “Circular Agriculture for a Resilient Planet”. The event brought together academic leaders, agri-tech pioneers, and institutional voices to explore how Italian circular models can reshape the global food and farming system.

Championing Circularity and Regenerative Thinking

Tecno International led the initiative as part of its long-standing commitment to driving sustainable transformation through cross-sector collaboration. Set at BAT’s London headquarters, the event featured the launch of the white paper Circular Economy in Agriculture – Stories from Italy, authored by Professor Paolo Taticchi, UCL Centre for Sustainable Business Co-Director and Professor in Strategy and Sustainability, with Tecno playing a key role in the research and curation of the featured case studies.

Allegra Fortunato, Head of Strategy and Director of UK Office at Tecno International, presented the paper to an international audience of business leaders, diplomats, academics, and investors. Drawing from Tecno’s field research and consulting expertise, the paper highlights how circularity in agriculture can serve as a blueprint for scalable, resilient, and inclusive models across the food system.

“We are proud to support a conversation that is not just about agriculture, but about designing new systems of value,” said Allegra. “Italy’s circular models are showing the world what’s possible when local innovation meets global ambition.”

From Case Studies to Global Solutions

The white paper outlines three exemplary Italian initiatives that embody principles of circularity, regenerative agriculture, and digital integration:

  • Quintosapore: A small-scale, biodiverse farm rooted in soil regeneration and biomimicry.

  • JustOnEarth: A tech-enabled environmental intelligence company supporting low-impact farming through real-time data and satellite monitoring.

  • Zero Farms: A scalable, vertical farming system designed for peri-urban and high-density environments.

Together, these case studies offer a tangible response to the climate, biodiversity, and food crises – and showcase how Italy is building real momentum in agricultural innovation.

Empowering the Next Generation: MIO Award by Talented Italians in the UK

Following her presentation, Allegra Fortunato moderated a panel discussion with senior leaders from the featured initiatives:

  • Michael Simpson,  Head of AG Renewable Energy at CNH Industrial / CEO at Bennamann, highlighted how the circular use of methane can radically decarbonise farming operations and offer new revenue streams for rural communities

  • Valentina Piccioli, Learning Experience Designer at JustOnEarth, offered insight into the power of environmental data to drive decision-making and reduce the ecological footprint of food production

  • Daniele Modesto, Chief Executive Officer at Zero Farms, showcased how vertical modular systems can respond to both global supply chain shocks and urban food security needs

The panel mapped out how regenerative models can move from isolated examples to systemic change. Common threads included the role of open innovation, public–private collaboration, and the urgent need to rethink agriculture as part of a wider circular economy.

Tecno’s Vision: Sustainability Through Systems Thinking

At Tecno International, we see circular agriculture not only as a response to climate change but as a catalyst for rethinking how value is created, distributed, and regenerated in rural and urban ecosystems. Our involvement in this event is part of a broader commitment to supporting innovation ecosystems—where academia, startups, corporates, and institutions can co-design the sustainable solutions of tomorrow.

By curating and amplifying stories like those in the white paper, we aim to inspire decision-makers to act on what’s already working, and scale it.

The forum brought forward several key takeaways:

  • Circular agriculture is scalable: From high-tech biogas systems to biodiverse farms, Italy is piloting solutions that can be adapted to a variety of geographies and market conditions.

  • Data and design go hand in hand: Environmental monitoring, digital twins, and modular farm design are enabling precision, performance, and predictability.

  • Systemic change requires coalitions: Institutions, entrepreneurs, and consultants must work together to mainstream circularity in agriculture—across policies, investment strategies, and cultural narratives.

A Platform for Action 

This event marks only the beginning. Tecno International is already working to bring the insights from this paper into our consulting work with clients across Europe and beyond. We are also engaging with academic partners and innovators to build a shared roadmap for circular agriculture: grounded in measurable impact, local empowerment, and global connectivity.

Our hope is that “Circular Agriculture for a Resilient Planet” becomes an annual convening point for practitioners and pioneers committed to sustainable food systems and climate resilience.

For Tecno International, this event was more than a showcase—it was a call to action. A reminder that sustainability must be embedded at every level of our systems, from the soil to the boardroom. We look forward to continuing to lead this dialogue, supporting businesses and communities in building a future where agriculture is not only productive, but also regenerative.