MSM students head to COP30 bringing their vision for a sustainable future.
The Master in Sustainability Management (MSM) of SDA Bocconi School of Management will be represented at the COP30 in Belém, Brazil, from 10th to 15th November, with two teams of students whose original and relevant proposals were selected during the 4th Dolomites Conference on Global Governance of Climate Change and Sustainability in Venice. This event was promoted by Vision Think Tank in collaboration with the Fondazione Venezia per la Sostenibilità and other prominent institutions, including our university.
Our MSM students proudly represented SDA Bocconi, contributing with two innovative position papers that stood out for their analytical depth and forward-looking vision.
Regenerative agriculture: turning the soil into a climate solution
The first group of students — Diego Blanco Ayarza, Giorgi Tskhadadze, and Jazmin Aguilar Rangel —, coordinated by MSM faculty member, Prof. Vitaliano Fiorillo, presented the paper “Regenerative Agriculture: Global Status, Potential Benefits, and Pathways to Restoration of Soil.”
Their work explored how regenerative farming can transform agriculture from a source of degradation into a force for restoration — rebuilding soil health, strengthening biodiversity, and creating long-term economic value for farmers and society alike.
Building on the innovative Overall Soil Effectiveness (OSE) model developed by Prof. Vitaliano Fiorillo, the students proposed a new way to measure what truly matters: the capacity of healthy soil to sustain life, store carbon, and secure the future of our food systems. Their message was clear and powerful — regenerating the planet starts from the ground up.
Energy transition: powering change through innovation
The second MSM team — Jaqueline Aisha Azar Apter, Emre Koçak, Victoria Faynbloch, and Luciano Girardi Echenique —, coordinated by MSM director, Prof. Matteo Di Castelnuovo, tackled one of today’s most pressing challenges in their paper “Transmission & Distribution Challenges in the Energy Transition.”
Their research shed light on the growing gap between the rapid expansion of renewable energy and the slower development of electricity grids — a bottleneck that threatens to slow global decarbonization. They emphasized through specific business cases that this is a growing constraint which is affecting both developing and more advanced economies. They also highlighted how smart grids, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and innovative financing models can unlock this barrier and accelerate the clean energy transition.
The team’s presentation captured the attention of international experts, including Cliff Prior, Antonio Volpin, Daniele Franco, and Laura Hood, and earned them an invitation to present their paper at COP30 in Belém — a remarkable achievement that will take their ideas to the global stage among the key decision-makers driving climate action.
Celebrating the impact of our students
This international recognition is not only a celebration of the students’ outstanding work but also a reflection of the spirit and ambition that define SDA Bocconi’s Master in Sustainability Management.
Guided by Professor Matteo Di Castelnuovo, the MSM program empowers future leaders to bridge sustainability, innovation, and business — preparing them to drive real change where it matters most.
From an international conference in Venice to the world’s most important event on climate policy, i.e. the COP30 in Brazil, our students are proving that solid work, when paired with innovative ideas and purpose, can truly shape the future.
SDA Bocconi School of Management