AFI—LAB
Laboratory for Agro-Forestry Innovations
The AFI-Lab promotes the technological transfer of innovations in the production biosystems of agricultural and forestry contexts, as well as agro-industrial ones. All with particular regard to the specificities of mountain contexts.
Agricultural and forestry engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles and technologies to agricultural production and processing. It integrates typical aspects of engineering (mechanical, civil, electrical, chemical and ICT) with an in-depth knowledge of agricultural and forestry systems, linked to the natural, economic and social environment in which they are located. The main topics covered in AFILab are related to:
- Assessments of agricultural systems and agri-food supply chains: use of standardized methodologies and proposal of new methodologies and performance indicators to identify more economically and environmentally sustainable design and management solutions.
- Agricultural machinery and equipment: design, testing and improvement of tools and systems used in planting, maintenance, harvesting and processing of crops, forestry and livestock, including electrification of stationary and field agricultural processes.
- Agricultural structures: design of rural structures, with related management plans, such as barns, silos, stables, greenhouses and warehouses.
- Environmental sustainability: creation of systems that reduce environmental impact, such as waste management and the use of renewable energy in agriculture.
- Precision agriculture: use of sensors, GPS, and data analytics to optimize agricultural practices.
- Smart agriculture: using ICT tools, such as data mining, machine learning and AI to create so-called “digital twins”.
MAR 2026
Successful PhD Defense of Ayesha Ali at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
On March 26, 2026, at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, PhD candidate Ayesha Ali from the AgroForestry Innovation LAB successfully defended her doctoral thesis for the award of the PhD degree:
“DEVELOPMENT OF SENSING SOLUTIONS FOR EVALUATION OF DEPOSITED PESTICIDES IN FRUITS”
Evaluation Committee:
· Prof. Domenico Pessina (University of Milan)
· Dr. Sandro Liberatori (FAO/UN)
· Prof. Youri Pii (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano)
Supervisors:
· Prof. Fabrizio Mazzetto
· Prof. Andreas Georg Gronauer
· Dr. Giovanni Carabin
We congratulate her on this achievement and wish her a successful career!
MAR 2026
Visit of FEDERUNACOMA Representatives to the AFI-LAB
On March 25, 2026, Eng. Domenico Papaleo and Eng. Lorenzo Iuliano from the technical service of FEDERUNACOMA – which brings together the associations of Italian manufacturers of systems and digital technologies for agricultural machinery and production (Agridigital), irrigation systems (Assoidrotech), operating agricultural machines (Assomao), self-propelled operating agricultural machines (Assomase), tractors (Assotrattori), components for the various represented sectors (Comacomp), and gardening machines (Comagarden) – visited the AFI-LAB of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.
Prof. Mazzetto and Prof. Gronauer, together with their collaborators, illustrated in detail the different activities, focusing on those of particular interest for machinery manufacturers.
At the end of the visit, the FEDERUNACOMA representatives considered the testing offer to be of clear interest for their members, given the presented technical facilities and the specific expertise of the staff.
MAR 2026
Seminar at South Tyrol farmer association
On 10 March 2026, Fabrizio Mazzetto and Roberto Limongelli spoke in the training and professional development course for distributors of plant protection products and consultants organised by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano held at Südtiroler Bauernbund in Bolzano, about ‘What are the prospects for treatments with agrochemicals / Evolution of the regulatory framework and technologies for limiting environmental impact’. The meeting was attended by about 40 operators in the sector, including farmers, consultants and technical assistance experts.
FEB 2026
Participation in the conference “INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE AGRONOMIC TECHNIQUES. Ozone as a tool for reducing impacts in agriculture“
On 23 February 2026, Pasqualina Sacco and Fabrizio Mazzetto contributed with the report ‘Multi-criteria assessments for alternatives to chemical treatments in orchards and vineyards: what prospects for ozone’ to the conference organized by the National Academy of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Hunting and Fishing of the Emilia-Romagna Region. The day was an interesting opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives.
FEB 2026
4th CERALP Project meeting at AFI-Lab
AFI-Lab will host the 4th CEREALP Project Meeting, gathering partners from Switzerland and South Tyrol. The meeting will discuss advancements in the design and testing of mechanical solutions for cereal harvesting in mountainous regions. The core objective of CEREALP is to develop and test innovative technologies that enable efficient cereal harvesting on steep and challenging terrains.
NOV 2025
Guided tours through the AFI-Lab for visitors of AgriAlp 2025
AFI-Lab has participated in the official program of the AgriAlp fair. visitors and exhibitors tours were guided through the lab.
OCT 2025
Verband Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI), annual meeting at unibz
Several sections of the VDI related to agriculture held their annual meeting at unibz and visited the AFILab.
SEP 2025
Visit of the CDU political group in the Thuringian Parliament
A delegation from the currently governing CDU faction of the Thuringian state parliament, Germany, visited AFILab.
2025-2026
Joint lifelong learning course of Unibz and Suedtiroler Bauernbund about “Digitalisierung und KI in der Landwirtschaft”