Circular Food System Lab

Circular Food System lab
A new multidisciplinary Living Lab for circular transition and digital transformation of Food Systems

Circular Food System Lab (CFS Lab) is a new, multidisciplinary research lab at Politecnico di Milano, dedicated to advancing the circular transition and digital transformation of Food Systems within metropolitan, urban, and peri-urban context. Created by the Department of Design in partnership with the Departments of Mechanics and Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, the CFS Lab also operates as a Living Lab that collaborates with external organizations and supports various circularity initiatives. The Lab is in the final stages of set-up and will be active by early 2025 with its scientific program and social initiatives.

The CFS Lab conducts research and develops product-service and process solutions for circular innovation in Food Systems, aligning with the objectives of the Farm to Fork Strategy (EU Green Deal 2020). Key goals include promoting the ecological transition of agrifood systems, encouraging sustainable food consumption, reducing food waste, fostering healthy eating habits, and enhancing biodiversity within agrifood systems. Supported by PNRR funds through MUSA (Multilayered Urban Sustainability Action)—an innovation ecosystem for urban regeneration involving the University of Milano-Bicocca, Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi University, and the University of Milan—the lab is funded until the end of 2024.

CFS Lab’s work spans competitive research in Circular Food Systems, circular innovation consulting for companies and institutions, development of patents and start-ups focused on Food Systems, and public engagement to promote circularity in the agrifood sector. Following an action-research and hands-on experimentation model, the lab develops territorial pilot projects and proof-of-concept initiatives. CFS Lab integrates design-driven and technological innovation, including open-source approaches, across fields like mechanical engineering, computer science, electronics, and bioengineering, to create scalable solutions for Circular Food Systems.

The lab operates through three modules located in dedicated spaces on the Candiani and La Masa Campuses of Politecnico di Milano in Bovisa. Circular Design for Food Systems, the coordinating module, is managed by Polifactory, the makerspace of Politecnico di Milano within the Department of Design. Embedded in the Fab Lab, this module focuses on research, circular design, and the prototyping of interactive product-service systems for Food Systems.