Food Security and Resilience in the Italian Context

Program Overview

Students in the Italy summer abroad program 2025, with gorgeous Italian sunset in background
  • Food Security and Resilience in the Italian Context
  • Course Number: IHSD 6470-01
  • Credits: 3
  • Dates: June 1- June 12, 2026
  • Locations: Rome, Orvieto,  Bolsena, and surrounding regions
  • Faculty Lead: Nathan Morrow, PhD
  • Eligibility: Open to SPHTM graduate students and others by approval
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Language of Instruction: English

This two-week field-based course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the interconnected challenges of food security, sustainability, and systems thinking within Italy’s dynamic agricultural, political, and cultural landscapes. Set in historic and rural regions across central Italy—from global institutions in Rome to family-run farms in Bolsena—the course brings together immersive learning, high-level policy engagement, and grounded community experiences.
Through lectures, field visits, and conversations with leading practitioners and scholars, students will examine how food systems respond to disruption, and how leaders at local and global levels are shaping resilient futures.

What previous program participants say:

“This course helped me connect systems theory to real-life practice—in UN agencies, in the field, and in small towns.”

“I came away with a deeper understanding of the complexity of food systems and my role as a future leader in public health.”

“From the FAO to a goat farm in Gradoli, it was an unforgettable learning experience.”

Academic Highlights

  • Global Institutions in Action: Visit the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other international institutions addressing food insecurity and humanitarian crises.
  • Systems Thinking & Policy: Explore complex adaptive systems, food governance, and sustainable development through the lens of local food networks, cooperatives, and small producers.
  • Field-based Learning: Participate in guided site visits to organic farms, community-supported agriculture networks, and agrotourism models.
  • Faculty & Guest Experts: Engage with Italian leaders in food policy, disaster response, agricultural innovation, and health resilience.

Course Structure

The course begins with online preparation in the spring, followed by the in-person component from June 1- June 12, 2026. Sessions take place across Rome, Orvieto, and Bolsena, with a focus on integrating academic discussion and on-the-ground learning.

Key components include:

  • Daily book club-style discussions on systems leadership and disruption
  • Case-based learning on food justice, crises, and recovery
  • Site visits to locations such as Caramadre Organic Farm, Fattoria Le Coste, and the Orto in Festa cooperative
  • Student-led synthesis presentations

Logistics & Travel

responsible for booking their own flights to Rome (FCO). Group travel, lodging, and most meals during the course are included in the program fee.
Housing is provided in simple but well-located accommodations, including convents and agriturismos. 

Days include a mix of classroom time, travel, and experiential learning.

Apply Now 

Enrollment is limited to ensure an immersive and high-impact experience. Interested students should contact Dr. Nathan Morrow or the Office of Global Health for more information. 

This course fulfills elective credit for select WSPH programs. 

Early application is encouraged.