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Progettazione e sviluppo di un device per la chiusura degli accessi laparoscopici: il “Closer”
No full textGrazie ai suoi indiscutibili benefici, la chirurgia laparoscopica si è diffusa a livello globale in vari ambiti della chirurgia addominale, e solo nel 2023, il progresso delle tecniche mininvasive ha portato il numero totale di procedure laparoscopiche a 15,2 milioni a livello mondiale. Tuttavia, questo approccio non è scevro da complicanze, alcune delle quali specifiche della laparoscopia, come quelle legate all'uso dei trocar e all’insorgenza di ernie nel sito di posizionamento di questi, le Trocar-Site Hernia (TSH). L'incidenza delle TSH varia significativamente in base agli studi disponibili, arrivando fino al 6%, e l'obesità, a causa di particolari fattori predisponenti e delle difficoltà tecniche maggiori nella chiusura dei port-sites, rappresenta uno dei principali fattori di rischio. Attualmente sono disponibili sul mercato numerosi strumenti per la chiusura dei port-sites, alcuni originariamente progettati per altri scopi e altri concepiti per questa funzione. Nonostante la scarsa qualità complessiva della letteratura scientifica su questo tema, alcuni articoli segnalano che molti di questi strumenti sono potenzialmente pericolosi, imprecisi e difficili da utilizzare, il che spiega la mancanza di uno strumento predominante nel mercato. Il nostro obiettivo è stato quello di progettare, prototipizzare e sviluppare uno strumento per la chiusura degli accessi laparoscopici che fosse sicuro, efficace e semplice da usare. Dopo il deposito del brevetto, il progetto ha affrontato tutte le fasi preliminari alla sperimentazione umana, comprese le prove ex vivo. Gli obiettivi del progetto di ricerca possono essere riassunti nella creazione di uno strumento chirurgico per la chiusura dei port-sites che consenta, sotto visione laparoscopica, di eseguire manovre sicure senza rischio di lesioni intra-addominali, che permetta il posizionamento ottimale del filo di sutura per la chiusura della fascia e del peritoneo e che garantisca un'esecuzione ergonomica e rapida delle manovre, riducendo la necessità di elevate competenze chirurgiche.
Il dispositivo, chiamato Closer, è composto da uno “scaffold” all’interno del quale due componenti, il biter e il retriever, possono muoversi l’uno sull’altro agganciando e muovendo gli aghi. Sono stati creati in laboratorio modelli sintetici di parete addominale riproducendo tutti gli strati, e sono state condotte prove su questi modelli e su quelli di parete suina e canina. I tempi medi per il processo di chiusura nei modelli sintetici (29,5 secondi) e in quelli ex vivo (28,9 secondi per il modello suino e 29,6 secondi per quello canino) si sono rivelati promettenti. I dati preliminari del Closer mostrano che nella maggior parte dei casi il posizionamento della sutura è corretto rispetto all'incisione. Il Closer è progettato come uno strumento monouso che consente una chiusura rapida del peritoneo e della fascia sotto visione laparoscopica, garantendo la massima sicurezza per il paziente e, grazie alla sua ergonomicità e alla sua facilità di utilizzo, consente di eseguire una sutura in pochi semplici passaggi, in meno di un minuto e senza la necessità di competenze tecniche elevate, differenziandosi così dai dispositivi attualmente disponibili
Aggregate metabolic phenotypes related to the bioavailability of dietary (poly)phenols and their association with cardiometabolic health
No full textIncreasing evidence suggests that modest long-term intakes of (poly)phenols can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Nevertheless, the role of (poly)phenols in cardiometabolic protection has not been consistently demonstrated yet. Inter-individual variability plays an important role in the physiological response, mainly influenced by differences in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of (poly)phenols, along with other factors, including genetic background, gut microbiota, sex, age, ethnicity, lifestyle (diet, smoking, and physical activity), (patho)physiological status and medication. After ingestion, (poly)phenols reach the colon, where they undergo modifications by the gut microbiota, being converted to smaller catabolites, principally as conjugated phase II metabolites, which can act as mediators of diet-induced effects on health. The inter-individual differences in gut microbial composition and functionality can lead to quantitative and qualitative differences in the production of specific metabolites, influencing the bioactivity of (poly)phenols in the host. The different catabolite production patterns may be related to metabolic phenotypes (the so called metabotypes). The application of metabotyping in precision nutrition could help tailoring dietary advice to prevent health problems, especially concerning cardiometabolic status.
The Oral (Poly)phenol Challenge Test (OPCT) study is directed to understand the association between aggregate metabolic phenotypes for the main dietary (poly)phenols and the factors determining their formation, as well as with the cardiometabolic health.
An acute intervention study was carried out on 300 healthy adults (18-74 y) who met specific inclusion and exclusion criteria: a BMI ranging between 18.5 and 35.0 kg/m2, free from cardiometabolic diseases and impairments mostly related to the gastrointestinal tract, renal and liver functionality. During Visit 1, after signing the informed consent, they were asked to provide dietary and lifestyle information and to undergo anthropometric measurements. Clinical data and biological samples (blood, urine, and faeces) were delivered at Visit 2, when subjects underwent a standardised oral (poly)phenol challenge test consisting in an acute supplementation of up to 15 classes of dietary (poly)phenols in the form of 3 tablets. Urine samples collected during the following 24h were analysed through UHPLC-ESI-IMS-qToF-HRMS and UPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS to assess the individual urinary excretion of phenolic metabolites, allowing clustering according to aggregate metabotypes. Blood samples were analysed to determine common cardiometabolic health biomarkers (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin) and for whole-genome genotyping focused on genetic polymorphisms (SNPs). Faeces were subjected to microbial profiling to determine gut microbiota composition at species level by using ITS profiling method. Cardiometabolic risk scores as well as clinical measures were also assessed.
Several statistical methods were performed, considering both univariate and multivariate analyses. Different clustering models were carried out and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was selected to model data from clustering analysis. Logistic and multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between clusters and cardiometabolic biomarkers.
Up to 298 volunteers finished the study. Our analyses showed that the cohort was made up of 57% of women, having an average age of 40.7 y (SD ± 16.3); regarding anthropometric measures, 73% of the sample had a normal weight, 22% was overweight and 5% obese. The mean values of the clinical data concerning cardiometabolic health ranged within the reference values. A targeted approach was performed on 297 subjects for the identification of more than 250 (poly)phenol metabolites and to allow population clustering according to different metabotypes. Several clustering methods identified two main metabotypes, the so called low and high-producers of phenolic metabolites, respectively. Clusters were mainly defined by differences related likely to gut microbiota composition; indeed, among all the phenolic metabolites identified, the most discriminating ones were those of colonic origin. Main statistically significant differences between the two groups are mostly based on age, sex, anthropometric measures, and previous dietary habits.
In addition, results on genetic polymorphisms (SNPs), following genome-wide association study on >6 million variants, evidenced strong associations between metabotypes and several genetic variants. Variations in these alleles likely affected the metabolism of (poly)phenols as they could not be transformed in more hydrophilic molecules, resulting less bioavailable.
To provide a deeper knowledge on the association between metabotypes and cardiometabolic health, different regression models were performed. Logistic regression analysis showed that the probability to be in the cluster 2 of high-producers is mainly linked to age and sex. At the same time, multiple regression model proved that subjects in the cluster 1 were more likely to report a slightly higher BMI than those in the cluster 2.
Individuals metabolise dietary (poly)phenols in different ways due to several factors, showing, at the same time, the interlink among different families of (poly)phenols. Thus, metabotyping according to the metabolism of the whole set of dietary (poly)phenols may represent a promising attempt for cardiometabolic health promotion through personalised nutrition initiatives
Control of Impact-aware Collaborative Robots
No full textLo sviluppo di robot collaborativi (cobot) capaci di operare in modo sicuro ed efficiente accanto agli esseri umani rappresenta un'area cruciale della robotica. Questa dissertazione affronta le sfide del controllo consapevole degli impatti nella robotica collaborativa, concentrandosi su metodologie senza sensori per rilevare e rispondere a impatti intenzionali e non intenzionali. Vengono presentate tre innovazioni chiave.
In primo luogo, viene introdotto un nuovo Differenziatore Ibrido Super-Twisting (HSTD), che consente una stima accurata della velocità e dell'accelerazione a partire dai dati di posizione senza richiedere sensori dedicati. Questo metodo dimostra una resistenza superiore al rumore e un ritardo di fase minimo, migliorando le prestazioni in tempo reale in ambienti dinamici.
In secondo luogo, è stato sviluppato un nuovo Osservatore di Accelerazione dello Stato Esteso (ESAO) per un rilevamento rapido e affidabile delle collisioni. Estendendo la dinamica dello spazio degli stati del robot e utilizzando l'errore del segnale di accelerazione, questo metodo raggiunge tempi di rilevamento più rapidi rispetto agli algoritmi all'avanguardia, offrendo una gestione robusta del rumore e un'elevata adattabilità.
In terzo luogo, l'applicazione di questi metodi è dimostrata attraverso un sistema robotico a doppio braccio progettato per compiti di presa e manipolazione di oggetti. Sfide come segnali di coppia esterna deboli e rilevamenti ridondanti di impatti sono affrontate sfruttando norme combinate di coppia esterna e soglie calibrate su finestre temporali, garantendo una pianificazione e un controllo affidabili delle traiettorie. La validazione sperimentale conferma l'efficacia dell'approccio proposto nel migliorare i tassi di successo dei compiti e la stabilità operativa.The development of collaborative robots (cobots) capable of operating safely and efficiently alongside humans is a critical area in robotics. This dissertation addresses the challenges of impact-aware control in collaborative robotics, focusing on sensorless methodologies to detect and respond to intentional and unintentional impacts. Three key innovations are presented.
First, a novel Hybrid Super-Twisting Differentiator (HSTD) is introduced, enabling accurate velocity and acceleration estimation from position data without requiring dedicated sensors. This method demonstrates superior noise resilience and minimal phase lag, enhancing real-time performance in dynamic environments.
Second, a new Extended State Acceleration Observer (ESAO) is developed for rapid and reliable collision detection. By extending the robot’s state-space dynamics and using the error of acceleration signal, this method achieves faster detection times compared to state-of-the-art algorithms, offering robust noise handling and adaptability.
Third, the application of these methods is demonstrated through a dual-arm robot setup designed for object grasping and manipulation tasks. Challenges such as weak external torque signals and redundant impact detection are addressed by leveraging combined external torque norms and time window frame calibrated thresholds, ensuring reliable trajectory planning and control. Experimental validation confirms the effectiveness of the proposed approach in improving task success rates and operational stability.
This work advances the state of impact-aware cobot control, laying the groundwork for safer and more efficient human-robot collaboration
Evaluation of urinary chemistry and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin to detect renal tubular damage in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease
No full textCardiorenal syndrome (CRS) describes a reciprocal relationship between the heart and kidneys, where impaired function of one organ—whether acute or chronic—can trigger a similar decline in the other. In dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), early detection of renal involvement allows for treatment adjustments that benefit both organs. Serum creatinine concentration remains the most common marker for assessing kidney function in these dogs, though it is unfortunately a poor indicator of early kidney damage and cannot differentiate between functional and structural lesions.
This thesis reports the results of a multicenter study conducted at the University of Parma, and the University of Bologna exploring the occurrence and nature of renal damage in dogs with stable MMVD (first study phase) or in congestive heart failure (CHF) (second study phase).
In the first phase, three descriptive studies addressing different aspects of Type 2 CRS were conducted. The objectives were to evaluate in dogs with stable MMVD: 1) the impact of the time frame between oral furosemide administration and sample collection on urinary electrolyte concentration and any potential fluctuations in urinary electrolytes between morning and evening in a group of healthy dogs; 2) the value of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), a marker of tubular damage, across different American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stages and a comparison with healthy dogs; 3) the relationship between uNGAL levels and echocardiographic variables used for staging cardiac disease. The findings from this phase were as follows: 1) urinary electrolyte excretion significantly increases within 6 hours of furosemide administration in MMVD dogs at ACVIM stage C, whereas healthy, untreated dogs showed no significant circadian variations in urinary electrolyte excretion; 2) uNGAL levels were significantly higher in MMVD dogs and increased with higher ACVIM stages, indicating the presence of renal tubular damage even in stable MMVD dogs; 3) two echocardiographic indices left atrium stroke volume (LASV) and tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRVmax) were associated with elevated uNGALC levels, suggesting these parameters might help identify MMVD dogs at greater risk of kidney damage.
In the second phase of the study, renal responses in Type 1 CRS were evaluated, including dogs with MMVD presented to the intensive care unit in CHF. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of acute kidney disease (AKI) during a short hospitalization period and evaluate the predictive role of urinary uNGAL for AKI. It was found out that 63% of dogs with CHF developed AKI within the first 48 hours of admission. However, uNGAL levels were not associated with renal function decline as indicated by creatinine changes.
These studies can contribute to the understanding of cardiorenal syndromes, but future researches should explore reno-protective strategies for managing MMVD in dogs, as these approaches could potentially slow disease progression and mitigate related complications
Controllo delle proprietà elettriche e strutturali di Ga2O3 epitassiale
No full textThe ultrawide bandgap semiconductor material gallium oxide (Ga2O3) features promising properties for next generation electronic devices. In particular, the bandgap of ≈ 5 eV, the high predicted breakdown field, the possibility to engineer its n-type conductivity through extrinsic doping, and the high chemical stability, are key factors to foresee its extensive application in the field of (power) electronics and optoelectronics devices, especially in the case of the thermodynamically stable β phase. In fact, this material system presents polymorphism: different metastable structures of Ga2O3 (α, β, γ, δ and κ) can be stabilized though various epitaxial growth techniques. Among the metastable polymorphs, κ-Ga2O3 has been theoretically predicted to be characterized by a large spontaneous polarization, driving significant interest into this material system. Nonetheless, for κ-Ga2O3 a throughout understanding over the structural and point defects towards the determination of its functional properties is still at the early stage. Therefore, the present work focuses primarily on these aspects related to the κ-Ga2O3 material system. The heteroepitaxy of κ-Ga2O3 results on various substrates in the formation of an intrinsically structurally defective structure (e.g., vertically oriented rotational domains). This work investigates the defective nature of κ-Ga2O3 to gain a comprehensive understanding of its impact on the functional properties of this material, presenting the first evidence of defect-mediated in-plane transport. The study then explores potential strategies to mitigate the presence of structural defects in two different epitaxial growth techniques, MOVPE and MBE. Following the analysis of structural defects, the focus shifts to the role of point defects in κ-Ga2O3, offering a practical approach to engineer them through mild annealing treatments well-below its temperature stability threshold. In the final section, the diffusion of Li into different Ga2O3 structures is discussed, along with insights into the diffusion mechanism driven by the defective nature of the studied layer
Correlation between olfactory, gustatory and cognitive functions in the elderly : a preliminary study
No full textL’invecchiamento, che è un processo di degenerazione fisiologica progressiva, implica modificazioni globali nel funzionamento dell’individuo, tra cui il declino delle funzioni cognitive e dei processi sensoriali. Numerosi studi riportano che i deficit nei sensi chimici possono predite l’insorgenza di disturbi cognitivi e malattie neurodegenerative, evidenziando una correlazione tra deficit olfattivi, gustativi e cognitivi. Questo studio ha avuto come obiettivo quello di indagare possibili correlazioni tra le funzioni olfattive, gustative, cognitive e variabili legate al benessere e all’umore in un gruppo di soggetti anziani. Sono stati reclutati 47 soggetti, con un range di età tra i 57 e gli 88 anni. I risultati ottenuti sembrano confermare l’esistenza di diverse correlazioni tra funzioni chemosensoriali, in particolare quella olfattiva, funzioni cognitive e benessere generale. Nello specifico, si sono osservate correlazioni tra discriminazione olfattiva, fluenza fonemica, performance in compiti di tracciamento visivo-motorio e benessere generale. Al contrario, non sono state osservate correlazioni significative tra funzionalità gustativa, funzioni cognitive e variabili legate al benessere psicologico e all’umore dei partecipanti. Il presente lavoro è uno studio preliminare di tipo trasversale su un campione ristretto di soggetti, quasi tutti di sesso femminile, che incoraggia studi più approfonditi di tipo longitudinale e con un numero più ampio di partecipanti.Aging, which is a process of progressive physiological degeneration, involves global changes in the functioning of the individual, including the decline of cognitive functions and sensory processes. Numerous studies report that deficits in chemical senses can predict the onset of cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting a correlation between olfactory, gustatory and cognitive deficits. This study aimed to investigate possible correlations between olfactory, gustatory, cognitive functions and variables related to well-being and mood in a group of elderly subjects. Forty-seven subjects were recruited, with an age range between 57 and 88 years. The results obtained seem to confirm the existence of several correlations between chemosensory functions, in particular the olfactory one, cognitive functions and general well-being. Specifically, correlations were observed between olfactory discrimination, phonemic fluency, performance in visual-motor tracking tasks and general well-being. On the contrary, no significant correlations were observed between taste functionality, cognitive functions and variables related to psychological well-being and mood of the participants. This work is a preliminary cross-sectional study on a small sample of subjects, almost all female, which encourages more in-depth longitudinal studies with a larger number of participants
La Pinacoteca De Napoli: un lascito testamentario per un'idea di museo pubblico
No full textDal testamento olografo, redatto nel 1891, emerge chiara la volontà del pittore De Napoli di legare definitivamente il suo nome alla città natìa, a cui donava gran parte dei beni unitamente al palazzo avito. Per un’idea di museo, modernamente inteso come luogo di conservazione, studio e di tutela del patrimonio.
Hypophosphatemia in patients with seizures: specific indicator or incidental finding? Comparison with traditional markers
No full textIn medicina umana l’ipofosfatemia è frequentemente osservata nei pazienti che presentano crisi tonico cloniche generalizzate. La concentrazione sierica di fosfato è usata per differenziare tali crisi da altre cause di perdita transitoria di coscienza.
Lo scopo dello studio è stato di valutare se l’ipofosfatemia possa rappresentare un marker diagnostico utile per distinguere le crisi epilettiche da altre cause di TLOC nei pazienti veterinari e di confrontare l’affidabilità diagnostica della fosfatemia con i marker che risultano comunemente alterati durante le crisi.
Nello studio 37 soggetti con crisi toniche-cloniche generalizzate o tremori massivi generalizzati, verificatisi entro 30 minuti dall’ammissione presso l’ospedale veterinario universitario. I criteri di esclusione includevano la presenza di patologie renali concomitanti, età giovane, gravidanza o campioni itterici/emolitici.
In accordo con la letteratura si sono riscontrati alterazioni dei valori di biomarker comuni, incremento di CK (p=0.005), lattato (p=0.0017) e lattato deidrogenasi (p=0.024).
Al contrario, i valori di fosforo non hanno mostrato variazioni significative nei tre tempi analizzati e sono rimasti entro i range di riferimento nella quasi totalità dei soggetti (p=0.943).
Questi risultati suggeriscono che l’ipofosfatemia transitoria non rappresenti un marker affidabile di crisi epilettiche nella popolazione veterinaria esaminata.In human literature, transient hypophosphatemia is often observed in individuals presenting with tonic-clonic generalised seizures. Serum phosphate concentrations are used as markers to differentiate between transient loss of consciousness caused by seizures and other causes. This study aimed to evaluate whether hypophosphatemia could serve as a diagnostic marker to distinguish seizures from other causes of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) in veterinary patients. It also aimed to compare the diagnostic reliability of serum phosphate with that of other established biochemical markers commonly altered during seizures, such as lactate, creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
A total of 37 patients presenting with generalized tonic-clonic (GTC) seizures or severe generalised tremors were enrolled. Patients were included if they had experienced seizures within the previous 30 minutes of being admitted to the University VTH. Exclusion criteria included concomitant kidney damage, being of a young age, being pregnant, or having haemolytic/icteric serum. This study showed, in accordance with the literature, significant alteration in common biomarkers during GTC seizures, with an increase of CK (p=0.005), lactate (p=0.0017), and LDH (p=0.024). Phosphorus values did not vary across the three time windows analysed.
It has been noted that phosphorus levels remain within reference values in almost all animals, and there is no statistical significance between the presence of GTC seizures or massive generalised tremors and phosphorus levels (p=0.943).
These findings suggest that transient hypophosphatemia does not represent a reliable marker of epileptic seizures in the examined veterinary population
The Tangled History of Baboons: Signals of hybridisation in the genome of Papio species
No full textHybridisation represents a natural process whereby members of two distinct lineages come into contact and breed; when these events result in the production of fertile offspring, hybridisation can play a significant role in the evolutionary history of species. The majority of primate genera, including Homo, experienced similar events throughout their evolutionary histories. Among primates, baboons (genus Papio) represent a particularly notable case of interspecies (and possibly intergenera) hybridisation, with hybrid individuals observed in various regions across the African continent where the ranges of different baboon species overlap. Southern and eastern Africa are two regions where baboons have been exposed to these phenomena, yet to be comprehensively investigated from a genomic perspective.
In order to investigate these events, new whole-genome sequences were generated from chacma, olive and hamadryas baboons, including museum specimens, commonly present in Southern and Eastern Africa, respectively. This thesis examines these novel genomes together with data already available from the literature.
In southern Africa, hybridisation was detected between chacma baboons and their neighbouring species, the yellow and kinda baboons. The occurrence of population structure across chacma baboons and the extent to which hybridisation has shaped this structure were evaluated. Signals of hybridisation were also detected in Eastern Africa between olive and hamadryas baboons. The extent these interactions and others previously reported involving yellow baboons were reflected in the population structure of olive baboons was investigated. Finally, the evolutionary history of gelada (Theropithecus gelada), a primate endemic to Ethiopia that has also been observed to hybridise with olive baboons, was reconstructed. The population structure of geladas, their local adaptations, and the occurrence of genomic signals of hybridisation with baboon species were examined. The results presented in this thesis suggest that hybridisation is extensive in Papio species and that events of gene exchange have significantly affected local variation
The invisible value of coffee: Educating small producers in their countries of origin for a more resilient supply chain
No full textIl caffè è la seconda materia prima più commercializzata a livello internazionale, dopo il petrolio, con alle spalle una lunga e complessa filiera che comprende le fasi di produzione, lavorazione, commercio, tostatura, distribuzione e consumo, coinvolgendo molteplici attori in tutto il mondo.
Tuttavia, spesso si ignora il fatto che il 60% caffè viene prodotto da 12,5 milioni di piccoli coltivatori, vale a dire con <5 ha di terreno (Fairtrade Italia, 2023), di cui il 44% vive sotto la soglia di povertà (Farrelly Mitchell, 2025). Questi produttori sono figure essenziali per il sistema, ma al contempo sono i soggetti più vulnerabili alle sfide di tipo economico, sociale ed ambientale, come la volatilità dei prezzi, l’abbandono delle aree rurali da parte dei giovani e gli effetti sempre più evidenti del cambiamento climatico.
Fornendo agli attori interessati un bagaglio di competenze più ampio e completo, questo paradigma può essere cambiato, offrendo nuove opportunità lavorative locali e concrete per i giovani, contribuendo al benessere e alla stabilità generale delle comunità produttrici.
Dunque, questa tesi si inserisce nel contesto geografico dei Paesi d’origine del caffè e in quello sociale dei piccoli produttori, proponendosi come obiettivo quello di proporre un nuovo sistema in cui si individuano gli stakeholder e le competenze necessarie al cambiamento, nel breve-medio periodo, affinché si costruisca un futuro più stabile e sostenibile per il settore.Coffee is the second most traded commodity internationally, after oil, and has a long and complex supply chain that encompasses production, processing, trade, roasting, distribution, and consumption, involving multiple stakeholders worldwide.
However, it is often overlooked that 60% of coffee is produced by 12.5 million smallholder farmers, with <5 hectares of land (Fairtrade Italia, 2023), 44% of whom live below the poverty line (Farrelly Mitchell, 2025). These producers are essential to the system, but at the same time, they are the most vulnerable to economic, social, and environmental challenges, such as price volatility, the abandonment of rural areas by young people, and the increasingly evident effects of climate change.
By providing stakeholders with a broader and more comprehensive set of skills, this paradigm can be changed, offering new local and concrete job opportunities for young people, contributing to the well-being and overall stability of producing communities.
Therefore, this thesis fits into the geographical context of coffee's countries of origin and the social context of small-scale producers. Its aim is to propose a new system that identifies the stakeholders and skills needed for change in the short to medium term, in order to build a more stable and sustainable future for the sector