On Tuesday, March 25, Ferstina Wady Scott graduated with a thesis titled “Italian Olive Mills: Management and By-Products Valorization” from the Sciences and Management of Nature programme – International Curriculum in Global Change Ecology and Sustainable Development Goals at Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna.

Ferstina’s thesis offers valuable insights into sustainable management practices within the Italian olive oil sector and highlights opportunities for valorizing by-products. Notably, her work includes the Italian findings from the first survey conducted as part of the CIRCOLIVE project, marking an important contribution to the initiative’s ongoing research.

Her academic journey was supported by an exceptional team: Prof. Enrico Valli served as her supervisor, with co-supervision by Prof. Tullia Gallina Toschi and Dr. Mario Guida. A special thanks goes to Dr. Rosalba Roccatello for her vital support in disseminating the survey and analyzing the results.

We also acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism and Dr. Karolina Brkić Bubola, under whose guidance the original questionnaire was designed and translated into the languages of all partner countries involved in the CIRCOLIVE project.

Ferstina’s work stands as a strong example of the collaborative, interdisciplinary, and transnational spirit driving CIRCOLIVE forward. Congratulations to her on this outstanding achievement and for contributing to a more sustainable future in the olive oil sector!