DES Agricoltura Sociale is a provincial network in Trentino, Northern Italy, dedicated to transforming rural areas and agricultural land into vibrant spaces of civic, economic, and social engagement.
We are a coalition of organizations that bring together diverse expertise—agricultural, social, and educational—to:
- Build a model of production and consumption that respects nature and local characteristics;
- Harness the inclusive potential of agriculture to support people in vulnerable situations, both socially and professionally;
- Promote health without compromising on taste and food quality.
Today, DES Agricoltura Sociale brings together 16 member organizations, including major players like Consolida (with 52 member cooperatives) and the Cantina Sociale di Trento (with 400 members), along with key stakeholders such as the Federazione Trentina della Cooperazione (442 member organizations). Members include the Municipality of Trento, several social cooperatives, two farms, a social winery, and the research institute EURICSE (with 35 national partners). The network continues to grow, enriched by new projects and events.
Currently, the members of the DES are:
- The Consortium of Social Cooperatives Consolida
- The Social Cooperatives: Amalia Guardini, Città Futura, CS4, Gruppo 78, La Rete, Progetto 92, Villa Maria, Kaleidoscopio and Samuele
- The Social Enterprise Comunità Murialdo Trentino Alto Adige
- The Agricultural Cooperatives: Cantina Sociale di Trento, Società Frutticoltori Trento and Mangiotrentino
- The Municipality of Trento
- The Research Foundation on Cooperatives and Social Enterprises Euricse
What We Do
Our mission is to enhance and diversify existing social agriculture initiatives in Trentino by boosting their potential for training, inclusion, and employment for disadvantaged individuals. Through the multifunctionality of social farming and the power of a collaborative network, DES creates positive impacts across several domains:
- Social – by expanding inclusive agricultural spaces that support empowerment and job access;
- Environmental – by reclaiming abandoned land, fostering biodiversity, promoting small-scale and organic farming, and avoiding intensive agriculture;
- Cultural – by building local cooperative networks, raising awareness on social and environmental sustainability, and encouraging the appreciation of marginal resources;
- Educational – by engaging especially younger generations on the importance of healthy eating habits that benefit people, the environment, and communities.
DES Social Agriculture offers a range of integrated and socially responsible products and services, all designed to enhance the environment, the community, and the people involved:
Christmas boxes: “natural and social” gift packages, from the contents to the packaging, available in various formats for companies and individuals wishing to give a present with a strong environmental and social message.
Supplies for canteens and small restaurants: seasonal collaboration for the delivery of fresh and processed products, sourced from environmentally respectful farming.
Cultural, educational, and community activities: initiatives open to the wider community to share the values of the project, fostering moments of reflection, culture, and active participation.
Social and work inclusion: involvement of vulnerable individuals (in collaboration with public institutions and local social services) in farming and product processing activities, providing them with skills and tools for personal and professional development.
Our Impact
In the processes of cultivation and transformation of agricultural products, we involve vulnerable people in partnership with public bodies and local social services, accompanying their paths with the necessary skills and tools.
In 2024, the DES Social Agriculture engaged a total of 273 people across its 8 production sites, including 165 individuals with vulnerabilities and around 70 volunteers.
In just one year, the network’s social cooperatives cultivated over 20,000 kg of vegetables and produced more than 50 unique processed products. Nearly 1,000 kg of fresh produce were delivered to kindergartens run by Città Futura, involving children in hands-on learning activities in gardens.
During the holiday season, over 900 Christmas boxes were sold, showcasing the district’s values and products. DES also participated in initiatives like “Sentieri di Etika”, a series of community walks across five sites in Trentino, blending sustainability and active participation. DES hosted three walks and contributed to the final event in Trento with a tasting of its local products.
Why It Matters
Across Italy, social agriculture is emerging as a key driver of local welfare, offering multidimensional solutions to a range of social needs. In Trentino, however, projects face unique challenges due to the mountainous terrain and harsh winters, which limit year-round farming activity.
This is where DES Agricoltura Sociale steps in—to support and coordinate existing projects, stimulate new initiatives, and foster a shared vision for sustainable, inclusive agriculture across the province.
By linking social farming projects in a cooperative network, DES contributes to local development through the use of local resources, the creation of new services and markets, and the strengthening of relationships among public institutions, private businesses, nonprofits, associations, and citizens.
In doing so, we help shape new local identities, innovate forms of community welfare, and generate a dynamic interplay between economic, social, and health-related values.
Watch the video below with the interview with the protagonists of the DES
