On June 4, 5 and 6, three intense days of work were held at the Mercato Agroalimentare della Sardegna dedicated to the research project “Wuhao”, selected within the cascade calls promoted by the University of Parma through the onFoods – Research and Innovation Network OnFood and Nutrition Sustainability, Safety and Security program. The project, which involves three Italian markets – Sestu (CA), Parma and Andria – aims at the digital transition of agri-food markets, integrating data, logistics and sustainability through an advanced technological infrastructure. After the stages of comparison held in the Parma and Andria offices, the meeting in Sardinia represented a crucial moment in the path towards the conclusion of the project. The goal is ambitious: to experiment with advanced solutions for the control of incoming and outgoing flows of goods and vehicles, for the traceability and quality of products, for the promotion of solidarity and efficient logistics.
“In Sardinia – underlines Giorgio Licheri, director of the Agri-food Market and leader of the project – we have set up an operational team of twelve people, in constant coordination with the working groups active in Emilia-Romagna and Puglia. We are integrating the best available technologies to collect, manage and use fundamental data relating to flows, goods and vehicles, with the aim of making the daily activities of the market simpler and more efficient.”
“Innovation – continues Licheri – is no longer just about the product, but also about the quality of data and services. A modern market must offer tools that allow operators, retailers and restaurants to receive goods quickly, traceably and sustainably. It means helping companies compete and, at the same time, guaranteeing consumers a fresh, safe and controlled product. We are convinced that the digital transition today represents the true evolutionary turning point in the agri-food system.”
Vincenzo Pisano, president of the management company Coagri Sardegna and historical operator of the market, underlines how «orderly and collaborative logistics, together with the professionalism of the operators and the quality of the products, are essential to better manage relationships with customers, save time and improve the work of our employees”
Among the protagonists of the operational meeting in June, also Nicola Ragatzu, CEO of the company Attiva, who illustrated to the partners the results achieved in almost a year of work, paving the way for the developments expected for the coming months.
For the University of Foggia, Professor Rosaria Viscecchia and researcher Antonella Camarelle spoke; for the Andria Market, director Maurizio Pizzolorusso; for the Parma Agri-food Center, director Giulietta Magagnoli with all her staff. Luca Lanini, an expert in agri-food logistics and head of the Cibusalus srl company, provided technical-scientific support.
"Our market has taken a leading role in this process - continues Licheri - but the results will be shared with all the markets of the Project, Parma and Andria, and within the Italmercati network to all those who want to adopt this platform. We are not talking about any software, but a prototype of data governance, which can be a support for decisions, useful for reducing waste and improving the quality of work. It is a step towards a more integrated, more transparent and more sustainable agri-food system".