On 12 October 2026, partners of the Greening Ethiopia project participated in an online workshop on sustainability certification and sustainable practices in agri-food supply chains. The workshop was organised by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) as part of work package 2 (WP2) and brought together 31 participants, including speakers and organisers.

The workshop provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge on sustainability certification protocols, indicators and practical approaches to improving sustainability within universities and agricultural systems.

Exploring sustainability certification in agri-food supply chains

Professor Ettore Capri introduced approaches to measuring and certifying sustainability in agri-food supply chains. His presentation addressed the importance of reliable indicators, transparent assessment methods and independent certification in demonstrating sustainability performance.

Drawing on examples from the wine and olive oil sectors, he explained how sustainability certification can help organisations evaluate environmental, social and economic impacts and communicate their performance.

The discussions also addressed challenges related to applying certification systems in different contexts, including the need to consider local conditions and available resources.

Learning from sustainability initiatives at UCSC

The workshop also offered insights into sustainability initiatives implemented at UCSC.

Professor Marco Trevisan presented examples from the university’s Piacenza campus, including measures to reduce plastic consumption, improve sustainable mobility, promote energy efficiency and involve students in environmental initiatives.

Professor Francesco Timpano discussed the importance of integrating sustainability into university governance, education, research and institutional strategies. The presentations highlighted how universities can contribute to sustainability not only through teaching and research, but also through their daily operations and engagement with surrounding communities.

Agrivoltaics as an example of sustainable land use

Another topic was agrivoltaics, an approach that combines agricultural production with solar energy generation on the same land.

Greta Capoani introduced UCSC’s agrivoltaic park, where researchers investigate how solar panels and different crops can coexist. The presentation covered the design of the installation, ongoing crop trials and practical challenges relating to water use, shade and agricultural productivity.

The discussion explored the potential relevance of such approaches for Ethiopia, particularly in relation to land availability, agricultural production and renewable energy opportunities.

Exchanging experiences and identifying next steps

Throughout the workshop, Ethiopian university representatives from Assosa University, Bahir Dar University, Haramaya University and Mekelle University actively contributed questions and reflections on the applicability of the approaches presented. Discussions covered certification requirements, implementation costs, student engagement, institutional commitment and the feasibility of different sustainability solutions in Ethiopia.

The exchange highlighted the importance of adapting sustainability practices and certification approaches to the specific circumstances of institutions and agricultural systems.

As a follow-up, the partners continue their discussions on certification protocols, indicators and practical applications during a workshop in Addis Ababa in December 2026.

The workshop contributed to knowledge exchange between UCSC and the Ethiopian partner universities, providing examples and considerations that can inform their future approaches to sustainability certification and institutional practices.