Luca Giupponi

The implementation of transformative changes that address the root causes of social–ecological challenges is urgently needed. Transdisciplinary research has been proposed as one suitable approach to coproduce relevant knowledge for transformative change. However, there is a lack of conceptual clarity to assess whether and how transdisciplinary research can deliver transformative change, and also about what transformative change is. Here, we present a framework to assess the transformative potential of transdisciplinary research and test it in 4 cases from the European Alps. The framework includes a characterization of the transdisciplinary research process, a characterization of the changes in the target unit (the entity that the transdisciplinary research aims to transform), and a theory of change linking the former to the latter. The framework allows examination of whether and how transdisciplinary research contributes to changing target units and to what extent these changes are transformative, while highlighting the importance of the temporal context. In addition, the framework highlights key characteristics of the transdisciplinary research process that shape its transformative potential. The main value of the framework lies in the explicit link between the assessment of the transdisciplinary research process and the assessment of transformative change over the medium term (from years to decades). Moving forward, studies are needed that rely on a larger and more diverse number of cases and that better grasp the depth of transformative change. This article offers insights for improving assessments of the impacts of research, which are increasingly critical for researchers, universities, funders, and beneficiaries. These insights can support the effective design and evaluation of research aimed at implementing transformative change to address complex social–ecological challenges.

The protection and enhancement of plant agrobiodiversity heritage is fundamental for sustainable development and for long-term food security. Mountain region agrobiodiversity has a genetic heritage rich in territorial adaptations that enable it to cope with the major challenges of climate change. Enhancing public awareness and expanding research efforts are critical to safeguarding and valorizing this important heritage. This article presents a practical example of how the University Center of Excellence Mountain University, an innovative training and research center of the University of Milan, applies this strategy of territorial enhancement.

Picea omorika is an endangered conifer endemic to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This research reports the first case of its naturalisation in Italy, specifically in a restricted area of the upper Brembana Valley (Orobic Alps, Lombardy), where an uneven-aged population, of approximately 50–60 individuals, grows within a wood pasture at 1,760–1,790 m a.s.l., inside the Orobie Bergamasche Regional Park. Dendrochronological analysis indicates that this population likely originated from a single tree planted for ornamental purposes near a mountain hut in the 1960s. Over the past 30 years, the species has propagated in the study area under cold, suboceanic climatic conditions and on moderately moist, nutrient-poor, slightly acidic soils, as inferred from climatic data and Ellenberg ecological indicator values. Grime’s competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal (CSR) functional strategy analysis classified P. omorika as a strictly stress-tolerant species (C = 0.0%, S = 100.0%, R = 0.0%) with low invasive potential. Phytosociological analysis indicates that the P. omorika community is part of a secondary succession that is progressing from pastures of Nardion strictae towards high-montane coniferous forests of Piceion excelsae . This research contributes to a better definition of the ecological niche of P. omorika .

The loss of agrobiodiversity is a world damage both in biological and cultural aspects. Although mountainous areas in Italy still preserve many traditional cultivars (landraces), they face increasing risk from genetic erosion and disappearance. This study focused on the identification and multidisciplinary characterization of 16 previously undocumented bean landraces ( Phaseolus vulgaris and P. coccineus ) from the Lombardy Alps (Italy) using genetic, morphological, nutritional and ecological approaches. Genetic analyses based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers revealed moderate but structured diversity among 18 bean genotypes, with 1–5 alleles per locus and polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranging from 0 to 0.772. The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) explained 66.01% of total genetic variation and, together with the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) clustering, clearly separated landraces from commercial controls and distinguished P. vulgaris from P. coccineus , highlighting high intra-specific variability likely linked to geographic origin and absence of formal breeding. In contrast, morphological outline analysis and nutritional profiling showed that each landrace possesses unique and distinctive traits without major intra-specific variation. All beans showed high levels of proteins (20–29%) and some accessions (pigmented seeds) had a good quantity of antioxidants and other functional compounds, reinforcing their value as nutritious and health-promoting products. Furthermore, the ecological assessment indicated a shared competitive/competitive-ruderal strategy while morphometric seed analysis explained 90.9% of total shape variation (LD1 = 60.5%; LD2 = 30.4%) and identified three main morphotypes (reniform, elliptic, roundish), without clustering consistent with species or genetic groups. The results underscore the remarkable intra-genus and intra-specific diversity within Phaseolus landraces suggesting that this variability is genetic, nutritional and phenotypic. Their cultivation (on farm conservation) and integration into local value chains could support sustainable development in marginal areas and bring new opportunities for mountain economies. Moreover, the data collected provide a scientific basis for the registration of these landraces in Italian and European agrobiodiversity registers, a key step for their protection and promotion.

This research assessed current and future climatic suitability for Crocus sativus L. cultivation across Italy, using species distribution models. A dataset of 721 georeferenced points from sites consistently producing top-quality saffron was combined with bioclimatic variables from the CHELSA v2.1 database. Habitat suitability was modelled with MaxEnt and projected under current (2025) climatic conditions and future scenarios for mid-century (2055) and late-century (2085), based on the GFDL-ESM4 model and the SSP3-7.0 emission scenario. The MaxEnt model showed moderate predictive performance (AUC = 0.73 ± 0.02; TSS = 0.37 ± 0.03), which is consistent with the broad ecological tolerance of C. sativus. Current suitable areas (90,049 km²) are mainly in central and northern Italy, especially along the hilly Apennines and much of the Po Plain. Response curves indicate that optimal saffron cultivation occurs mainly under moderately continental conditions, with moderate to high temperature seasonality (6.5–7.5 °C), cool winter temperatures (mean of the driest quarter 0–3.5 °C), and relatively high precipitation during the wettest month (150–250 mm). Future projections show an expansion of suitable areas (124,552 km² in 2055; 123,868 km² in 2085) and a spatial shift from lowlands and coasts toward hilly and mountain regions of the Apennines, the Alps, and the main islands. These findings can support farmers, land managers, and policy-makers in informed planning and sustainable management of saffron cultivation under climate change.

Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk. is an endangered conifer endemic to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This research reports the first case of its naturalisation in Italy, specifically in the upper Brembana Valley (Orobic Alps, Lombardy), where an uneven-aged population of approximately 50-60 individuals grows within a wood pasture at 1760-1790 m a.s.l., inside the Orobie Bergamasche Regional Park. Dendrochronological analysis indicates that this population likely originated from a single tree planted for ornamental purposes near a mountain hut in the 1960s. Over the past 30 years, the species has propagated in the study area under cold, suboceanic climatic conditions and on moderately moist, nutrient-poor, slightly acidic soils, as inferred from climatic data and Ellenberg ecological indicator values. Grime’s competitor-stress-tolerator-ruderal (CSR) functional strategy analysis classified P. omorika as a strictly stress-tolerant species (C = 0.0%, S = 100.0%, R = 0.0%) with low invasive potential. Phytosociological analysis indicates that the P. omorika community is part of a secondary succession that is progressing from pastures of Nardion strictae towards high-montane coniferous forests of Piceion excelsae . The results of this research suggest that the upper Brembana Valley may serve as a suitable site for the conservation/translocation of P. omorika .

The globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus) is a Mediterranean crop valued for its edible capitula and bioactive compounds. Post-harvest residual leaves are among the main by-products of artichoke cultivation and remain largely underutilized. This study reports a comprehensive characterization of the residual leaves of Carciofo di Malegno, an Alpine artichoke landrace. Comparative analysis was conducted against leaves from two commercial cultivars and a commercial herbal tea product. HPLC analysis revealed that Carciofo di Malegno exhibited the lowest levels of secondary metabolites. Cynaropicrin content was 0.52 ± 0.03 mg/g, lower than in the commercial samples, while the phenolic compounds were below the quantification limit. Proximate analysis indicated a distinctive nutritional profile, with significantly higher ash (8.01 ± 0.04%) and crude fiber (35.75 ± 0.29%) contents compared to all reference samples. These findings highlight the potential of Carciofo di Malegno residual leaves as a sustainable source of nutrients for functional food and nutraceutical applications. Their low content of bitter sesquiterpene lactones may enhance palatability, supporting their valorisation within circular economy frameworks. Moreover, their use may contribute to the in situ conservation of this landrace, reinforcing the link between agrobiodiversity preservation and the sustainable exploitation of agricultural by-products.

Climate change and declining economic revenues are driving the closure of many ski resorts in mountainous regions worldwide, particularly at lower elevations, where winter snow cover is becoming increasingly sporadic. This abandonment is impacting wide areas of the Alps, previously managed to reduce erosion and to control trees/shrubs encroachment. As result, natural rewilding processes may lead either to the environmental degradation or to the restoration of pre-disturbance conditions, each with different implications for sustainability. Our aim was to assess the rewilding state and the drivers of sustainability at an abandoned ski resort in the Italian Alps (Valcanale, Bergamo), where the ecosystem has been evolving under minimal human pressure since the ski facilities were decommissioned in 1993. The assessment focused on pedological/vegetational perspectives, with particular attention to soil-based ecosystem services (SBESs). The results show that the interventions made during ski run construction significantly influenced the recovery of SBESs (and thus their long-term sustainability). Areas with minimal disturbance (e.g., forest vegetation removal without soil movement) now support SBESs at levels comparable to nearby undisturbed areas. Conversely, ski runs that underwent slope reshaping/grading support poorly developed soils and significant sheet/gully erosion, rendering them hazardous for pedestrians. Nevertheless, plant biodiversity has benefited in some cases, as many rare/endemic protected species colonize stony/eroded ski runs soils, extending their distribution beyond their original habitat.

In recent years, many spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., Pinaceae) forests have been severely affected by bark beetle (Ips typographus L., Coleoptera: Curculionidae) outbreaks in the Southern Alps, but their ecological impacts remain poorly studied. We analyzed the distribution, ecological, and floristic–vegetational characteristics of forests recently affected by the bark beetle in the upper basin of the Oglio River (Northern Italy) and developed a MaxEnt model to map forests with a bioclimate more prone to severe insect attacks in the coming decades. The results showed that the spruce forests affected by the bark beetle are located exclusively in the submountain and mountain belts (below 1600 m a.s.l.) and that 85% of them are found in areas with high annual solar radiation (>3500 MJ m⁻²). The predictive model for areas susceptible to severe bark beetle attacks proved highly accurate (AUC = 0.91) and was primarily defined by the mean temperature of the dry winter quarter (contribution: 80.1%), with values between −2.5 and 2.5 °C being particularly suitable for the pest. According to the model, more than 58% of the current spruce forests in the study area will exhibit high susceptibility (probability > 0.7) to severe bark beetle attacks by 2080. The floristic–vegetational and ecological analysis of plant communities of 11 bark beetle-affected areas indicated that more thermophilic and significantly different forest communities (in both floristic and physiognomic terms) are expected to develop compared to those of pre-disturbance. Furthermore, the high coverage of spruce snags/standing dead trees appears to accelerate plant succession, enabling the establishment of mature forest communities in a shorter time frame.

Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad.) is a traditional herbal remedy traditionally used in Latin America for its health benefits and to treat metabolic disorders, including diabetes. Despite interest in its herbal use, the phytochemical properties of caigua’s secondary metabolites are poorly known. This study aimed to isolate the main flavone glycosides from the leaves of caigua landrace cultivated in the Camonica Valley (Italy) using flash chromatography and evaluate their potential activity toward peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels through luciferase and intracellular calcium assays. We found that the caigua species-specific flavone glycoside, chrysin-6-C-fucopyranoside, showed potent and selective activity toward PPARγ, with no effects on other PPAR subtypes or TRP channels. These findings indicate that the caigua plant could offer a safer alternative to conventional PPARγ agonists, whose use as antidiabetic drugs is limited by severe side effects that currently restrict the clinical use of conventional PPAR agonists.