03/10/2026
From City to the Field
A train ride to Orvieto, a vintage convertible VW Beetle, and a day of taking learning beyond the classroom into the field.
Led by Professor Jessica Mancini, our Tuscia one-day field course set out from Rome and travelled to Azienda Agricola Janas, near Orvieto—a small farm where food, agriculture, and research come together.
Here, students explored agriculture, grains, and food through hands-on learning. They learned about experimental farming practices and the role of ancient grain varieties in local agriculture. Through a bread tasting, they then compared how different grains and baking methods shape flavour and texture.
Lunch brought the day’s discussions back to the table. Ingredients from the farm and the surrounding area invited students to think further about the connections between land, agriculture, production, and food.
This is also the Gustolab classroom—
not simply learning what food is, but going to the places where food is produced, observing, tasting, asking questions, and developing an understanding of what we eat through real food systems.
From the City to the Field, from grains to bread.
The classroom is wherever food takes us.
.illinois
