The Agroecology Coordination Sicily is an association established, in compliance with the Civil Code, Legislative Decree 117/2017 and the relevant legislation, as a Third Sector body called “Agroecology Coordination Sicily – Volunteer Organisation”.
The association is governed by a council that holds office for three years and is made up of the following members:
– Guido Bissanti, President;
– Valentina Palmeri, Vice President;
– Filippo Salerno, Secretary;
– Maria Giustiniano, Councilor;
– Giorgio Schifani, Director.

Guido Bissanti is an Agronomist who graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Palermo. After graduating, he worked as a researcher at Unipa, with funds financed by the CNR, on biological and integrated control programs and as a teacher in “Biological and integrated control of animal organisms”.
He was an expert member of Biotechnology for the Agriculture and Forestry Department of the Sicilian Region.
From 1991 to 1998 he held the position of president of the Order of Agronomists and Forestry Doctors of the province of Agrigento; from 1995 to 1998 that of president of the Regional Federation of the Orders of Agronomists and Forestry Doctors of Sicily. From 2000 to 2004 and from 2007 to 2008 he was a member of the National Council of Doctors of Agronomists and Forestry Doctors for which he was delegate in environmental matters. From 2001 to 2005 he was a member of the Committee of European Agronomic Engineers (CEDIA) and of the Committee of European Graduate Engineers (CLAIU) based in Brussels.
Among the various literary awards received, on 20 June 2016, at Montecitorio, he received the “Gianfranco Merli” National Award for the Environment – 2016.
In addition to some scientific publications and essays on ecological and social matters, he has published several articles in periodicals specialized in environmental and land planning matters..

Valentina Palmeri teaches Science and Mathematics. After graduating from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Palermo, you collaborated in the management of the family business and carried out voluntary work (Lipu) as a Naturalistic Guide. From 2012 to 2022 he held the position of regional deputy at the Sicilian Regional Assembly, covering, in particular, the roles of Vice President of the Environment, Territory and Mobility Commission, President of the water service subcommittee, member of the Productive Activities Commission, etc. , which gave her the opportunity to fight for some issues that are particularly close to her heart: environmental protection, the fight against desertification, the spread of Agroecology in Sicily. She is the first signatory of Regional Law 21/2021, ‘Provisions regarding agroecology, protection of biodiversity and Sicilian agricultural products and technological innovation in agriculture’; it also dealt with safety in the workplace and first aid, presenting a law to the ARS, then approved (law 20/2020), on the diffusion of techniques for clearing the airways in children, ‘pediatric unblocking’ techniques, to families and all school staff.

Giorgio Schifani is Full Professor of Agricultural Economics and Policy at the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences of Unipa, he has been dealing with issues related to agriculture/environment relations for over 30 years with particular attention to problems relating to the diffusion of organic agriculture and the principles of agroecology as a replacement for conventional production, market and consumption models. He has held numerous academic, scientific and organizational positions, and has been part of or chaired numerous departmental or University of Palermo commissions. Member of the Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), of the Italian Society of Agro-Food Economics (SIEA), of the Center for Studies on Estimation and Territorial Economics (Ce.S.E.T.), of the International Scientific Council for Island Development, UNESCO Agency, Section Italy, of which he was a member of the Scientific Committee, member of the Interuniversity Center “Center for studies on bioinspired agro-environmental technology” (BAT-CENTER), since 1996, the year of its establishment, he has been a member of the Steering Committee and currently vice-President of the GRAB-it, Italian Organic Agriculture Research Group. He was a member of the Management Committee of the Center for Economic Policy Studies and Initiatives in Sicily (CEPES), and is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Association “Do the right thing! Sicily”. From 2013 to 2019 he was part of the Technical Table on Organic Agriculture of the Department of Agricultural and Agri-food Resources of the Sicilian Region and from 2019 to 2022 of the Working Group “Agroecology and Organic Agriculture” of the Department of Agriculture for Rural Development and of Mediterranean Fisheries. Since 2017 he has been the Referent Teacher of the SAAF Department, as part of the training projects of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, carried out through the National Rural Network, which concern the issues of organic agriculture, innovation, sustainability, etc. He has been scientific or OU responsible for numerous research projects: National Research Council; MURST; POP; LIFE, Horizon 2020, Interregional Programmes; IV Framework Program for Research and Technological Development FAIR, Programs of Significant National Importance (PRIN), regional projects, etc. His research activity has given rise to approximately 220 publications in international and national journals, in volumes, in conference proceedings, etc. He is the author of five monographs and several curated works. His works have been presented in over 60 international and national conferences.

Maria Giustiniano (known as Marina) graduated in Law from the University of Palermo and practices as a lawyer.
You are a member of the regional council of the consumer and environmental protection association “Konsumer Sicilia”.
She is an expert and consultant for the association to handle disputes between consumers and companies operating on the national territory.
She was a parliamentary collaborator at the Sicilian Regional Assembly.
You contributed to the drafting of parliamentary questions, motions, interpellations and legislative proposals, preparation of speeches in the Chamber and legislative material, parliamentary research.
You contributed to the drafting of interventions relating to measures under discussion in the Environment, Territory and Mobility Commission, Culture, Training and Work Commission, Productive Activities Commission and to the drafting of amending proposals.
Furthermore, you worked in direct collaboration with the officials of the Commission for the planning and management of parliamentary activities.
You carried out support tasks at the Legislative Office of the Parliamentary Group.
She was responsible for organizing thematic conferences. Among the topics of greatest expertise: agroecology, environment (waste, water, SEA, EIA, Vinca), transport, public contracts, healthcare, work and social policies.

Filippo Salerno is an Agronomist who graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Palermo and works as a freelancer.
He is currently the president of the Board of Directors of AIAB Sicily.