About us

The Research Center on Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity (ResCUE-AB) was established in 2013 at the Department of Agriculture and Food Sciences (DISTAL) of the University of Bologna. 

ResCUE-AB brings together expertis in the field of horticulture and entomology, contributing to a range of interdisciplinary activities in the field of urban horticulture and biodiversity, both in Europe and in several countries of the global South.  

Our main goal is to transform cities into eco-laboratories that connects the different experiences of agriculture and urban ecology and facilitates the creation of ecological corridors.  

 

What do we do?

  • We promote and coordinate the study and research on: urban, social and sustainable horticulture, soilless cultivation, biodiversity and agroecology in urban environments, urban keeping, biological control in small-scale farming system for urban and peri-urban environments, productivity and quality of urban agriculture products, green infrastructure and urban green in general. 
  • We collaborate with other national and international research groups, bodies, institutions and associations.  
  • We act as a tool for dissemination and awareness, organizing trainings, conference, seminars and meetings, even informal and informative.
  • We support the definition and implementation of policies at local, regional national or international level. 
  • We support private companies in the horticultural sector for the development of new product

Our main research activities are related to the following topics:  

  • Urban agriculture (ecosystem services, business models, contamination risk and cultivation systems) 

  • Simplified soilless systems 

  • Automized hydroponic systems for protected cultivation 

  • Vertical farm: cultivation systems, lighting systems and nutrition 

  • Qualitative and quantitative physiological effects of artificial light (supplemental or substitutive) on crops, aromatic herbs, edible flowers and microgreens 

  • Effect of LED lighting on post-harvest 

  • Precision horticulture (use of optical sensors to monitor the nutritional status of crops) 

  • Design and implementation of urban ecological corridors for beneficial insects 

  • Design of agro-ecological farms in urban and peri-urban environments. 

WHERE WE ARE?

Department of Agri-Food Sciences and Technologies (DISTAL)