Orto 2.0 is a cooperative agricultural initiative operating in the metropolitan area of Rome that merges urban farming with digital innovation. Through a dedicated IT platform, individuals can rent small plots of land and select their preferred seasonal crops. The cooperative takes care of the entire cultivation process—from planting to harvest—allowing users to monitor crop growth in real time through the app and receive their produce directly at home.

This innovative model breathes new life into abandoned and degraded urban areas, restoring polluted or misused spaces into fertile, productive land. The platform enables users to share or exchange their harvest with other land renters, establishing a local circular economy that values community resilience and resource sharing.

Environmental sustainability is central to Orto 2.0. The cooperative uses only natural fertilisers made from organic waste, applies traditional planting techniques like consociation (companion planting), and avoids synthetic substances entirely. As a result, this method not only improves soil health and biodiversity but also contributes to climate action and food security in the city.

The platform is designed for scalability and can be adopted by other cooperatives. It collects and shares data about land usage and crop exchanges, helping maximise community impact while optimising agricultural planning.

Beyond its green mission, Orto 2.0 has a strong social purpose. It supports employment integration, including individuals with barriers to employment, in collaboration with social partners like the Salvation Army. Projects like “St'Orto Prenestino”, developed in partnership with the Botanical Garden of Rome, provide social-labour inclusion for disadvantaged people through horticultural therapy.

Through digital farming, social innovation, and community engagement, Orto 2.0 demonstrates that agriculture can regenerate both land and lives—bringing fresh produce, empowerment, and purpose to the heart of the city.