Greening the city: an ecosystem-based framework to support planning towards urban sustainability and resilience

Cities are small-scale complex socio-ecological systems, that host around 60% of world population. Ecosystem Services (ES) provided by urban ecosystems offer multiple benefits necessary to cope with present and future urban challenges. These ES include microclimate regulation, runoff control, as well as opportunities for mental and physical recreation, affecting citizen’s health and wellbeing. Creating a balance between urban development, land take containment, climate adaptation and availability of Urban Green Areas and their related benefits, can improve the quality of the lives of the inhabitants, the economic performance of the city and the social justice and cohesion aspects. This work starts analysing current literature around the topic of Ecosystem Services (ES), Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) and Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and their integration within current European and International sustainability policies. Then, the thesis focuses on the role of ES, GBI and NBS towards urban sustainability and resilience setting the basis to build the core methodological and conceptual approach of this work. The developed ES-based conceptual approach provides guidance on how to map and assess ES, to better inform policy making and to give the proper value to ES within urban context. The proposed interdisciplinary approach navigates the topic of mapping and assessing ES benefits in terms of regulatory services, with a focus on climate mitigation and adaptation, and cultural services, to enhance wellbeing and justice in urban areas. Last, this thesis proposes a trans-disciplinary and participatory approach to build resilience over time around all relevant urban ES. The two case studies that will be presented in this dissertation, the city of Bologna and the city of Barcelona, have been used to implement, tailor and test the proposed conceptual framework, raising valuable inputs for planning, policies and science.

What Happened to Participation? Urban Development and Authoritarian Upgrading in Cairo's Informal Neighbourhoods

Participation appeared in development discourses for the first time in the 1970s, as a generic call for the involvement of the poor in development initiatives. Over the last three decades, the initial perspectives on participation intended as a project method for poverty reduction have evolved into a coherent and articulated theoretical elaboration, in which participation figures among the paraphernalia of good governance promotion: participation has acquired the status of “new orthodoxy”. Nevertheless, the experience of the implementation of participatory approaches in development projects seemed to be in the majority of cases rather disappointing, since the transformative potential of ‘participation in development’ depends on a series of factors in which every project can actually differ from others: the ultimate aim of the approach promoted, its forms and contents and, last but not least, the socio-political context in which the participatory initiative is embedded. In Egypt, the signature of a project agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Federal Republic of Germany, in 1998, inaugurated a Participatory Urban Management Programme (PUMP) to be implemented in Greater Cairo by the German Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, GTZ) and the Ministry of Planning (now Ministry of Local Development) and the Governorates of Giza and Cairo as the main counterparts. Now, ten years after the beginning of the PUMP/PDP and close to its end (December 2010), it is possible to draw some conclusions about the scope, the significance and the effects of the participatory approach adopted by GTZ and appropriated by the Egyptian counterparts in dealing with the issue of informal areas and, more generally, of urban development. Our analysis follows three sets of questions: the first set regards the way ‘participation’ has been interpreted and concretised by PUMP and PDP. The second is about the emancipating potential of the ‘participatory approach’ and its ability to ‘empower’ the ‘marginalised’. The third focuses on one hand on the efficacy of GTZ strategy to lead to an improvement of the delivery service in informal areas (especially in terms of planning and policies), and on the other hand on the potential of GTZ development intervention to trigger an incremental process of ‘democratisation’ from below.

Towards the Enabling City: Intermediate Places between Practices and Planning for Social Innovation in Bologna

The research investigates the interaction between social innovation practices and urban planning, assuming as a case study and field of application the city of Bologna, observed from the point of view of the production of urban policies and with respect to the places where it is practiced. Social innovation are localised actions tackling current urban complexities with micro-scale practices of service and urban production, by which new urban actors find answers to social needs, which are less afforded by the market and the public sectors. Planning and social innovation practices are two dimensions working in the city in different but complementary ways, subject to a mismatch. Through the lenses of interaction, the research explores the context of Bologna, a paradigmatic study and application field, a laboratory of innovative policies where a tradition of collective civic initiatives intertwines with a more responsible institutional planning framework. After drawing from area-based policies of Berlin and Barcelona, the thesis reads the role of specific intermediate places, mediators in bridging the level of institutions and the practices. Through an inventory and a cross-cutting taxonomy of intermediate places, the research draws the knowledge to inform a new urban model for the city of Bologna, aimed at overtake the mismatches by enabling the practices to act, allowing urban planning to frame them in a cross-fertilisation dimension. The proposed urban diagrammatic model, foresees intermediate places as local socio-urban observatories for research and development, interacting with both institutions and communities. The goal is to critically explore the limits and widen the meaning of the capacity of action of social innovation practices engaging in mutual-learning with the city. The model suggests a new possibility for reflection on urban planning as a more flexible approach, which translates the numerous experiences of the city into alternatives and multiple visions.

Study of Candidate Genes for production and carcass traits in Italian Heavy Pigs: identification of a new DNA Markers, Expression Studies and Association Analysis using Different Experimental Design

Heavy pig breeding in Italy is mainly oriented for the production of high quality processed products. Of particular importance is the dry cured ham production, which is strictly regulated and requires specific carcass characteristics correlated with green leg characteristics. Furthermore, as pigs are slaughtered at about 160 kg live weight, the Italian pig breeding sector faces severe problems of production efficiency that are related to all biological aspects linked to growth, feed conversion, fat deposition and so on. It is well known that production and carcass traits are in part genetically determined. Therefore, as a first step to understand genetic basis of traits that could have a direct or indirect impact on dry cured ham production, a candidate gene approach can be used to identify DNA markers associated with parameters of economic importance. In this thesis, we investigated three candidate genes for carcass and production traits (TRIB3, PCSK1, MUC4) in pig breeds used for dry cured ham production, using different experimental approaches in order to find molecular markers associated with these parameters.

Staphylococcus aureus bones and joints infections: in vivo studies and host immune response

Abstract The aim of this work was the development of a murine model of septic arthrosynovitis and osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, which could mimic the natural disease occurring in humans and which could be suitable for testing preventive and therapeutic interventions. This model could be particularly useful since S. aureus-mediated joints and bones infections are relevant in humans, both in terms of frequency and severity. Our attention focused in tracking bacterial infiltration in joints and bones over time using different microbiological and hystopathological tools, which allowed us to have a complete overview of the situation and to evaluate the immunological actions undertaken by the host to contain or eradicate the bacterial infection. Antibodies and cytokines profiles, as well as recruitment of host immune cells at joints of immunized and infected mice were therefore monitored for a time period that allowed us to study both the acute and the chronic phases of the disease in situ. Finally the Novartis vaccine formulation proposed against S. aureus infections was tested for its capacity to protect immunized mice from joints infections, and the preventive immunization was compared to a standard antibiotic prophylaxis. The availability of powerful tools to study specific bacterial-mediated diseases is nowadays an important requirement for the scientific community to shed light on the complex interactions between host and pathogens and to test treatments for preventing or contrasting infections. We believe that our work significantly contributes to the overall knowledge in the field of S. aureus-dependent pathologies, opening the possibility for further investigations in several fields of study.

Genus Bifidobacterium: taxonomy studies and gene expression analysis on folate pathway

Folates (vitamin B9) are essential water soluble vitamins, whose deficiency in humans may contribute to the onset of several diseases, such as anaemia, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological problems as well as defects in embryonic development. Human and other mammals are unable to synthesize ex novo folate obtaining it from exogenous sources, via intestinal absorption. Recently the gut microbiota has been identified as an important source of folates and the selection and use of folate producing microorganisms represents an innovative strategy to increase human folate levels. The aim of this thesis was to gain a fundamental understanding of folate metabolism in Bifidobacterium adolescentis. The work was subdivided in three main phases, also aimed to solve different problems encountered working with Bifidobacterium strains. First, a new identification method (based on PCR-RFLP of hsp60 gene) was specifically developed to identify Bifidobacterium strains. Secondly, Bifidobacterium adolescentis biodiversity was explored in order to recognize representing strains of this species to be screened for their folate production ability. Results showed that this species is characterized by a wide variability and support the idea that a possible new taxonomic re-organization would be required. Finally B. adolescentis folate metabolism was studied using a double approach. A quantitative analysis of folate content was complemented by the examination of expression levels of genes involved in folate related pathways. For the normalization process, required to increase the robustness of the qRT-PCR analysis, an appropriate set of reference genes was tested using two different algorithms. Results demonstrate that B.adolescentis strains may represent an endogenous source of natural folate and they could be used to fortify fermented dairy products. This bio-fortification strategy presents many advantages for the consumer, providing native folate forms more bio-available, and not implicated in the discussed controversy concerning the safety of high intake of synthetic folic acid.

The green finance apparatus. How ideology and planning steer sustainable capital flows

By investigating the inner working of leading financial institutions, and their dense interconnections, this thesis explores the evolution of traditional financial instruments like bonds to tackle sustainability issues. Building on fieldwork among green financiers, the thesis is based upon participant observation of working groups appointed to define standards for sustainable bonds. Engaging critical theory, one claim is that investors are increasingly recruited or interpellated by an emerging global green ideological apparatus, aimed at ensuring the reproduction of existing social relations. Taking stock of the proliferation of both public and private actors in the definition of green standards and practices, the thesis proposes that this green ideology is becoming hegemonic. Focusing on the case of green bond pricing, it suggests that environmental and climate labels and other financial green signifiers for financial products take on brand-like qualities. Crystallizing imaginaries, meanings, and forms of personhood, they play a fundamental role in what is defined as a dual process of valuation-cum-subjectivation. Identifying themselves as “green”, financiers valuate differently green and brown assets allowing a ‘green’ financial value to slowly come to matter. Yet, alongside their ideological role, green labels have come to be almost exclusively standardized with reference to specific Climate Scenarios (e.g. Net Zero). These scenarios coordinate the optimal path towards achieving a carbon neutral world and represent the quintessential example of socioeconomic planning, crucially undermining neoliberal ideas of ‘the market’ as the ultimate calculative device.

Applied genomics in livestock: genome-wide association studies and population genomics analysis in pig and rabbit breeds

The domestication and selection processes in pigs and rabbits have resulted in the constitution of multiple breeds with broad phenotypic diversity. Population genomics analysis and Genome-wide association study analysis can be utilized to gain insights into the ancestral origins, genetic diversity, and the presence of lethal mutations across these diverse breeds. In this thesis, we analysed the dataset obtained from three Italian Pig breeds to detect deleterious alleles. We screened the dataset for genetic markers showing homozygous deficiency using two approaches single marker and haplotype-based approach. Moreover, Genome-wide association study analyses were performed to detect genetic markers associated with pigs' reproductive traits. In rabbits, we investigated the application of SNP bead chip for detection signatures of selection in rabbits using different methods. This analysis was implemented for the first time in different fancy and meet rabbit breeds. Multiple approaches were utilized for the detection of the selection of signatures including Fst analysis, ROH analysis, PCAdapt analysis, and haplotype-based analysis. The analysis in pigs was able to identify five putative deleterious SNPs and nine putative deleterious haplotypes in the analysed Italian Pig breeds. The genomic regions of the detected putative deleterious genomic markers harboring loss of function variants such as the Frameshift variant, start lost, and splice donor variant. Those variants are close to important candidate genes such as IGF2BP1, ADGRL4, and HGF. In rabbits, multiple genomic regions were detected to be under selection of signature. These genomic regions harbor candidate genes associated with coat color phenotype (MC1R, TYR, and ASIP), hair structure (LIPH), and body size (HMGA2 and COL2A1). The described results in rabbits and pigs could be used to improve breeding programs by excluding the deleterious genetic markers carriers and incorporating candidate genes for coat color, body size, and meat production in rabbit breeding programs to enhance desired traits

Urban food planning, city logistics and sustainability: the role of the wholesale produce market. The cases of Parma and Bologna food hubs.

At global level, the population is increasingly concentrating in the cities. In Europe, around 75% of the population lives in urban areas and, according to the European Environmental Agency (2010), urban population is foreseen to increase up to 80 % by 2020. At the same time, the quality of life in the cities is declining and urban pollution keeps increasing in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, waste, noise, and lack of greenery. Many of European cities struggle to cope with social, economic and environmental problems resulting from pressures such as overcrowding or decline, social inequity, health problems related to food security and pollution. Nowadays local authorities try to solve these problems related to the environmental sustainability through various urban logistics measures, which directly and indirectly affect the urban food supply system, thus an integrated approach including freight transport and food provisioning policies issues is needed. This research centres on the urban food transport system and its impact on the city environmental sustainability. The main question that drives the research analysis is "How the urban food distribution system affects the ecological sustainability in modern cities?" The research analyses the city logistics project for food transport implemented in Parma, Italy, by the wholesale produce market. The case study investigates the renewed role of the wholesale market in the urban food supply chain as commercial and logistic operator, referring to the concept of food hub. Then, a preliminary analysis on the urban food transport for the city of Bologna is presented. The research aims at suggesting a methodological framework to estimate the urban food demand, the urban food supply and to assess the urban food transport performance, in order to identify external costs indicators that help policymakers in evaluating the environmental sustainability of different logistics measures

Quantifying and modeling ecosystem services provided by urban greening in cities of the Southern Alps, N Italy

Population growth in urban areas is a world-wide phenomenon. According to a recent United Nations report, over half of the world now lives in cities. Numerous health and environmental issues arise from this unprecedented urbanization. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of urban green spaces and the role they play in improving both the aesthetics and the quality of life of its residents. In particular, urban green spaces provide ecosystem services such as: urban air quality improvement by removing pollutants that can cause serious health problems, carbon storage, carbon sequestration and climate regulation through shading and evapotranspiration. Furthermore, epidemiological studies with controlled age, sex, marital and socio-economic status, have provided evidence of a positive relationship between green space and the life expectancy of senior citizens. However, there is little information on the role of public green spaces in mid-sized cities in northern Italy. To address this need, a study was conducted to assess the ecosystem services of urban green spaces in the city of Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy. In particular, we quantified the cooling effect of urban trees and the hourly amount of pollution removed by the urban forest. The information was gathered using field data collected through local hourly air pollution readings, tree inventory and simulation models. During the study we quantified pollution removal for ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter (<10 microns). We estimated the above ground carbon stored and annually sequestered by the urban forest. Results have been compared to transportation CO2 emissions to determine the CO2 offset potential of urban streetscapes. Furthermore, we assessed commonly used methods for estimating carbon stored and sequestered by urban trees in the city of Bolzano. We also quantified ecosystem disservices such as hourly urban forest volatile organic compound emissions.

Towards Europe 2050: the role of institutions, EU research, and citizens for climate justice. The urban challenge in Amsterdam, Bilbao, Freiburg, and Lisbon.

The climate crisis is the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, and in 2023 the average global temperature reached new records, prompting the UN Secretary General to declare that 'the era of global warming is over, and the era of global boiling has arrived'. In this context, urban areas play a key role, and can be considered a bottleneck of the climate crisis. The European Commission is investing billions of euros in research and innovation projects in urban areas, while the European Green Deal strategy has the ambition of making Europe the first carbon-neutral continent on the planet by 2050. However, studies and research show that the causes of the climate crisis are rooted in an economic system that produces profound inequalities, and the very solutions to address the consequences of global warming risk deepening them. In this context, the role of cities is not only to decarbonise their urban fabric, but to build solutions to the social challenge posed by the climate crisis, promoting paradigm shifts capable of producing trajectories towards so-called 'climate justice'. This research analyses, through a holistic view, European policies in these fields, and delves into the actions and projects of four European cities - Amsterdam, Bilbao, Freiburg, and Lisbon - through a qualitative approach aimed at identifying strengths and contradictions of strategies to tackle the climate crisis. Delving into the collective dynamics and social impacts of the actions promoted, the research proposes a comprehensive view of the role that urban areas can play not only in decarbonising society, but in promoting a paradigm shift capable of addressing the economic causes and social consequences of the climate crisis.

Toward wellbeing: investigation of traditional, classical and innovative approaches to improve population and environmental health

As the word population continues to grow and global resources are limited, the WHO definition of health is difficult to achieve for a large part of the population. Humanity is facing the need to improve both environmental and human wellbeing. This can be done through careful planning and management of natural resources, ensuring food safety and reducing and converting wastes. This work aims to contribute to the improvement of population and environmental health exploring different research fields: urban park ecosystem services, food chemical risk assessment and agri-food by-product valorization. To highlight the importance of urban parks and their ecosystem services, an ethnobotanical study was carried out in the Ausa urban park in Rimini, using a citizen science approach. The results showed that Ausa Park is an important focal point for plant gatherers in Rimini, as it allows for plant foraging and contributes to preserve the knowledge of the use of plants. Two food safety studies were carried out, looking at the exposure of Poles to bisphenol A through the consumption of soft drinks and to cadmium through the consumption of chocolate bars. The results, compared with EFSA’s scientific opinion, show that the exposure of the Polish population to BPA is of health concern, while cadmium is not. In the agri-food by-product valorization, a green extraction method was optimized to recover valuable phenolic compounds from red-fleshed apple pomace; moreover, the possibility of recovering pectin from the residue was evaluated. Furthermore, valuable compounds in four different types of wheat milling by-products, considered as an alternative source of bioactive compounds with potential human health benefits, were investigated. In conclusion, this work produced usable data in urban green area management and planning, in food chemical risk assessment and in business production decisions, thus contributing to improving environmental and people wellbeing.