While pursuing his MA in International Affairs at JCU, Zach Slaney (Class of 2025) gained firsthand experience in sustainable agriculture through an internship at Cooperativa Agricola Co.r.ag.gio, a small-scale cooperative located in Rome’s Veio Regional Park, focused on sustainable farming and social equity. He secured the internship through the Center for Career Services.
The cooperative focuses on organic food production, with crops of vegetables, cereals, legumes, and fruit from its biodiversity orchard, as well as olives and honey.
The internship offered Zach an opportunity to learn beyond the classroom and experience sustainable development at the community level. “I worked directly with a community committed to sustainable farming, social equity, and localized food systems,” said Zach. “The cooperative’s mission is centered on supporting smallholder-style production, using organic techniques, community labor, and short supply chains to enhance food sovereignty and ecological resilience. This grassroots approach offered me a firsthand look at how micro-level agricultural practices intersect with broader development goals like food security and climate adaptation.”
Zach assisted with cultivating fruits and vegetables, from soil preparation and pruning to irrigation and natural pest management. He also helped maintain and organize farm infrastructure and prepare produce for local markets. “These daily tasks reflected the labor intensity and vulnerability of smallholder operations, especially in the face of climate unpredictability and limited resources,” he said.
One of the highlights of his internship was leading a team of volunteers during a community harvest day. “The sense of cooperation and shared purpose was inspiring and deepened my understanding of how food production can build community resilience,” Zach said.
More broadly, the internship changed the way Zach thinks about sustainability and development: “I came away with a stronger appreciation for participatory models of sustainability, where farmers aren’t just beneficiaries of policy but active co-creators. This experience has deepened my professional commitment to supporting food systems that are not only resilient, but equitable and inclusive from the ground up.”
In the future, Zach hopes to work on food security and climate adaptation at the policy level, particularly with international organizations such as FAO and IFAD.
“My passion for sustainability now feels more grounded and action-oriented, rooted in the realities of daily farm labor and the systemic challenges of creating equitable food systems.”
