A new open-access book, Rural Innovation Ecosystems and Agricultural Transition: Empirical Insights, Theoretical Approaches and Governance Challenges, has been published by Palgrave Macmillan. The volume is co-edited by Gianluca Brunori, coordinator of the CODECS project and Professor at the University of Pisa, together with Teresa Del Giudice, Marcello De Rosa and Chiara Mignani.
Developed within research activities supported by CODECS and the PRIN SMARTIES project, the book brings together theoretical reflections, case studies and policy-oriented contributions on rural innovation and agricultural transformation. It explores how innovation emerges through the interaction of different actors, technologies, knowledge and governance arrangements, and how these processes can contribute to more sustainable, resilient and inclusive rural development.
Digitalisation is an important theme throughout the publication. The book examines its role in rural transformation while recognising both its opportunities and potential risks. It also looks at how digital technologies can be embedded in local development strategies and how innovation ecosystems can help rural areas respond to wider environmental, economic and demographic challenges.
The volume also includes research directly linked to CODECS. One chapter focuses on a method for modelling digital transformation in agriculture and its application in CODECS Living Labs, while another explores the sustainability outcomes of agricultural digitalisation using the CODECS conceptual framework.
Bringing together experiences from different contexts, the book provides insights for researchers, policymakers and practitioners interested in rural innovation, digitalisation and the transition towards more sustainable agricultural and rural systems.
