At Università Cattolica, we see CERZOO as a model of innovation and a concrete response to the urgent questions agriculture must face today – climate change, sustainability, animal welfare, and food quality among them. What are the key challenges ahead for the sector, and how does CERZOO contribute to addressing them? 

CERZOO tackles these challenges by integrating research and practice in areas like precision livestock farming, regenerative agriculture, and environmental sustainability. It empowers students and researchers to develop concrete, scalable solutions for the future of food systems. 

The Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at Università Cattolica has two main campuses: one in Piacenza – its original home – and another recently established in Cremona, housed in the newly renovated former convent of Santa Monica. Yet the Faculty's history stretches further back in time: classes first began in Piacenza 72 years ago, on 19 January 1953. 

Recent celebrations in 2024 marking this milestone brought back many memories, including the laying of the foundation stone on October 30, 1949, by Father Agostino Gemelli, one of the founders of Università Cattolica, and then-President of the Republic, Sandro Pertini. During those commemorations, Professor Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, Dean of the Faculty, explained: “Studying Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences reflects the fact that these three areas are closely interconnected: food production, its transformation into consumable goods, and the impact on the planet. This interconnectedness is also reflected in the research we conduct in Piacenza and Cremona. We have a group of researchers who are among the best in the world. Thanks to them, we produce applied research that can be quickly transferred to the field, even on a global scale.” In this context, one particularly outstanding example is CERZOO, an experimental agricultural company that focuses primarily on eight research areas: 

• Agroecology, with agronomic research aimed at improving soil fertility and health, increasing organic matter, enhancing resource efficiency, boosting biodiversity, and integrating digital technologies in precision agriculture. 
• Physiology, with studies on the transition period, drying-off strategies, metabolic diseases, alternatives to antibiotics, calf health and growth, digestive functionality, and indicators for assessing animal welfare. 
•  Milk Quality, including research on chemical-nutritional, health, and dairy-processing quality, as well as diagnostic evaluations. 
• Dairy Technologies, improved microbial starter cultures and innovative processes for the safety and sustainability of cheese and fermented dairy processes 
• Feeds, with studies on the quality and preservation of hay and silage, as well as on mycotoxins and other natural toxins. 
• Nutrition, Nutrigenomics, and Epigenomics, encompassing research on feed supplements, comparisons between different feeds and diets, digestibility studies, and optimisation of digestive fermentation. 
• Zoo-environmental studies, investigating how to minimise greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, as well as the management and valorisation of livestock effluents. 
• Precision Livestock Farming, developing new sensors to assess animal welfare and milk quality, along with the application of precision devices to collect data on animals and their environments. 

In September 2022, CERZOO underwent significant renovation thanks to the support of the Guido and Enrica Invernizzi Foundation, with the goal of creating an agro-livestock study centre rooted in sustainability and animal welfare. 

“For our Faculty,” notes Professor Erminio Trevisi, President of CERZOO and faculty member in the Department of Animal, Food and Nutrition Sciences (DIANA) at Università Cattolica, “it is invaluable to have a research facility capable of answering society’s questions about sustainable agri-livestock production, food quality, and most importantly, environmental care and animal welfare. CERZOO serves as a crucial training ground for students, doctoral candidates, and researchers. It is already bearing fruit, as evidenced by various ongoing studies that are exploring innovative solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving soil fertility through conservation agriculture techniques. The project, supported by the Invernizzi Foundation, aims to develop solutions for every phase of dairy cattle farming, in pursuit of full environmental and economic sustainability.” 
“In the countryside of Piacenza, in the heart of the Po Valley and just a few kilometers from the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, this centre stands out for its ambition to bridge knowledge, research, and practical application,” added Gianantonio Bissaro, Managing Director of the Invernizzi Foundation. “We aim to identify and test production techniques that support human progress and environmental improvement. We are proud that our contribution can sustain the efforts of so many skilled individuals committed to this goal.” 

Within CERZOO, several Living Labs have been established spaces designed for field experimentation with new agricultural techniques and approaches. Most recently, the Animal Welfare Living Lab was launched, with the goal of developing innovative precision livestock farming tools and technologies that improve animal welfare through continuous monitoring of behavioral and physiological parameters. These data, collected via sensors, help improve animals’ quality of life and ease the work of professionals across the supply chain. 

Another newly launched initiative is SHARE, an acronym for Soil Health & Regenerative Agriculture. This Living Lab aims to combine regenerative agricultural practices with advanced monitoring technologies to improve soil quality and promote carbon sequestration. 

CERZOO has also recently inaugurated a mini dairy facility, using milk from cows raised on-site. The dairy serves two main purposes: to support research in the dairy and livestock sectors, and to offer educational opportunities for students. Study areas range from dairy technology and microbiology to food safety, with a focus on milk-derived products such as cheese, ricotta, and cream. 

From a teaching perspective, the mini dairy represents a valuable resource. Students can observe the full cheese-making process up close and take part in every stage of the milk-to-dairy-product transformation. In the current academic year, dairy production has already begun in collaboration with students, and the resulting products are being used to conduct shelf-life studies involving different microbial contaminants. 
These are just a few of the many initiatives that CERZOO has undertaken since its renovation. In a world that increasingly demands environmental responsibility, Università Cattolica is proud to count on a centre of excellence like CERZOO and to place it at the service of the Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences. This commitment brings students closer to the world of work in a conscious, scientifically rigorous, forward-thinking way – always with deep respect for the broader concept of agricultural welfare. 

As the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Professor Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, states: “Today, research and higher education in the agri-food sector require physical spaces where innovative solutions can be tested and hands-on learning can take place. This is precisely the mission of our Faculty: to equip students with a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge and extensive practical skills, while also providing young researchers with access to top-tier infrastructure to advance their studies. CERZOO fully meets both needs, offering a cutting-edge environment here education and research come together to drive innovation in the agri-food sector.”