Home > News > Courses Activities > Agroecology is Life > Exploring Agropastoral Systems: From Animal Farming to Cheese Production

At the Gentili Agricultural Farm in Valle Luterana, young participants in the “Agroecology is Life” project delved into the entire production cycle of sheep cheese during a series of workshops. These educational experiences provided a comprehensive and technical insight into the dairy supply chain, covering every stage from livestock management to the aging of the final product.

Throughout the activities, students demonstrated a keen interest and active engagement. The workshops concluded with reflective discussions that highlighted the contrasts between large-scale and small-scale production, focusing on their respective environmental, landscape, and animal and human welfare impacts. These experiences equipped the students with both practical and theoretical knowledge, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnections between animal welfare, product quality, and environmental sustainability.

The practical activities included:

  • Livestock and Animal Welfare: Students observed the sheep firsthand, examining the management of breeding, lactation, weaning, and milking. They assessed how diet and living conditions affect milk quality.
  • Cheese Production Process: Participants explored the chemical and physical factors involved in transforming milk into cheese, with a focus on temperature, acidity, and coagulation. They compared different types of coagulants, such as animal and vegetable rennet, and their effects on cheese texture and flavor.
  • Hands-on Experience: The students actively participated in the cheese-making process, from coagulation to curd breaking, shaping, and molding. They also analyzed the aging and preservation stages.