Who we are

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.

What We Do

In 2023, DES involved 186 people across five agricultural sites, including 93 individuals with vulnerabilities who participated in internships and training programs, supported by around 60 volunteers. In 2024, four more social cooperatives joined the network, further strengthening our capacity for training, inclusion, and agricultural production.

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.

Our Impact

In just one year, the network’s social cooperatives cultivated over 10,000 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.