The REGENU Innovation Challenge at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice was created to connect students with real-world actors engaged in the regeneration space, encouraging them to turn bold ideas into tangible solutions. For six weeks, during the course ‘Value Creation and Entrepreneurship’, young talents and local enterprises worked side by side to translate the principles of the regenerative economy into tangible projects.
One of the most inspiring stories came from the encounter between a group of international students and Feeducia, a microfarm based in Colle Umberto, in the countryside of Treviso, led by Antonio Segat. Their collaboration showed how academic exploration and everyday practice can reinforce each other, giving life to a project that is both visionary and practical.
Discovering regeneration beyond sustainability
“Before starting the course, we had never heard of the regenerative economy. All of us had been interested in sustainability before, but this was a new concept for us,” the students admitted. What struck them most was how regeneration differs from other frameworks:
“It is not just about restoring resources. Instead, it is about encompassing people, the environment, and institutions within a larger system that replenishes and gives back to everyone.”
Theory alone, however, was not enough. As they explained, “It became clearer when we observed real projects and initiatives carried out by inspiring people. Working hands-on with Feeducia meant engaging with the concept both academically and personally, as we were able to see the real impact of our solutions and interact with the community.”
From ideas to action
The path was far from linear. “Our approach was empirical from the very beginning. We knew that to really understand our case, we had to visit the farm and talk directly to Antonio. Over time, we came up with endless possible solutions… but with every idea, new issues emerged.”
As the deadline approached, the team realised that too many ideas risked diluting their focus:
“The turning point came when we asked ourselves: what can we build that will work starting tomorrow, with the resources available? That mindset pushed us to sit down, draw our solution with pen and paper, and settle on it.”
For Antonio, this pragmatism was invaluable: “The students went deep into detail with how they could make the problem real, bringing new insights for the social impact that this project could have, and also pointing out the administrative shortcomings that might need further attention before the realisation that we did not consider before. They have been real professional consultants and showed real involvement in their work.”
Facing regulation and scale
One of the toughest obstacles for students was navigating Italy’s strict regulatory framework. “Anything related to food and waste is heavily regulated, which leaves us with limited room for action. This taught us to compromise,” the students reflected.
Another challenge was ambition versus scale. “At first, we aimed high and came up with creative, ambitious ideas, but we later decided to focus on what was actionable in the short run, within Antonio’s time and resources.”
Antonio recognised the value of this approach. Being part of a community of “microfarmers,” he often worried that their work remained confined to small circles. “This project seemed like the perfect occasion to give further visibility to what I am doing at the farm, but also to the entire movement,” he said. What intrigued him most was that the challenge came from economics and management: “This really seemed the perfect opportunity to address the problems that the farm is facing from a perspective I personally have smaller competencies and knowledge about, being more prone to technical/technological issues, or agronomical ones.
Building community and social capital
Beyond technical ideas, the students worked to ensure the project was truly rooted in Colle Umberto. “We spoke to local stakeholders, directly or through Antonio, to see if they would be open to collaborating. For us, it was important not to present a purely theoretical concept, but a real solution for Feeducia.”
Their decision to involve the community impressed Antonio: “I like how they went literally on the field and rang some doors in the surrounding area. They immediately tried to explore the potential of creating and connecting a network of local stakeholders that might benefit from their solution.”
For the students, the lesson was clear: “A valuable takeaway is that not everything depends on us. Every person and every business is part of a larger community and ecosystem, and learning how to adapt and grow in balance with those surroundings is essential.”
Looking ahead
In practice, the logistics for the project could be set up quickly. The students already had ideas for the next steps: “The next step would be to work on marketing to broaden its reach. For example, by adding GIRO to Feeducia’s website and strengthening the farm’s presence on social media. Once we receive initial validation, we could build more traction by looking for on-site event partners and eventually seeking funding.”
Scaling, they believe, is possible thanks to its simplicity: “Any farmer could replicate something similar with few resources, benefiting their own community in the process. What makes the project truly powerful is not only the system itself, but the social capital it generates – a value that can’t be bought, only cultivated.”
This collaboration became a story of mutual learning: students gained hands-on experience with regeneration, while Antonio benefited from fresh managerial perspectives. More broadly, it highlighted how regeneration has yet to enter mainstream thinking—partly because it lacks a clear definition. Projects like this bring it to life, showing communities what regeneration looks like in practice.
As Antonio reflected: “This collaboration is a great way to make the regenerative approach part of the common sense in our society—by creating a critical mass able to influence consumer choices and economic investments.”
With experiences like these, the REGENU Innovation Challenge is not only training the next generation of changemakers but also helping to plant the seeds of regeneration in communities where it can grow and flourish.