On February 24, students in AUR’s M.A. Food Studies program visited Cooperativa Cobragor, a working farm and educational center on Monte Mario, Rome’s highest hill. The cooperative cultivates 40 hectares within a tract of land long associated with agriculture - its use believed to date back to Etruscan times.
Cobragor’s modern story began in the 1970s, when founding members lawfully occupied neglected public land and began restoring it to productive use. What was once layered with debris has since been transformed into fertile farmland, now serving as both an agricultural enterprise and a community hub.
During the visit, students encountered diversified production in action: seasonal vegetables, poultry, on-site sales, and shared gathering spaces. Cobragor also runs year-round educational programs connecting young people to food systems through hands-on learning and contributes actively to Rome’s Food Council, linking farming practice with civic policy.
The cooperative demonstrates how urban and rural economies can intersect. It supplies restaurants across Rome, organizes GAS (Gruppi di Acquisto Solidale) purchasing groups, and sustains multiple income streams through its agriturismo, restaurant, and seasonal public events.
For students in AUR’s M.A. in Food Studies, Cobragor offered a living case study aligned with the program’s interdisciplinary focus. The visit brought into focus core questions: how sustainability operates in an urban context, how cooperative governance interacts with market systems, and how food production shapes civic life.
As Cobragor prepares to renegotiate its land-use agreement with the City of Rome in 2028, its future will depend on continued collaboration between community and government. For AUR students, the cooperative stands as a reminder that food systems are dynamic, negotiated, and deeply embedded in place.
Grace Gray, M.A. Food Studies student, contributed to this article and supplied the photography.