From the Roots to the Future: LANDconnects 2025

A large number of LANDlers gathered last September 19th at Boscoincittà, a place both evocative and symbolic, where Kipar himself began working upon his arrival in Italy in 1984. With deep emotion, microphone in hand, the founder opened the fifth edition of LANDconnects.

Right where it all began.

 

After thanking external guests for their presence, he looked confidently toward the future and the growth of LAND, to which every LANDler is personally called to contribute, as has been the case during these first 35 years of activity. A community of nearly 200 people from every corner of the globe, guided by leadership that promotes collaboration, social engagement, and constant involvement of citizens, institutions, and stakeholders—to bring Nature-Positive solutions everywhere in the world.

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES

After greetings from Luisa Toeschi and Luca Carra, hosts at Bosco in Città, presenters Michael Graef and Chiara Stucchi kicked off the day’s program with a first panel dedicated to digital infrastructures. Journalist Şeyda Canepa from NTV opened the debate with Tiziano Durante, Cloud Region Lead EMEA at Microsoft; Roberto Pagani, Head of Business Development at Siemens; and LAND’s Nikolas Neubert and Shirly Mantin.

The focus was on data centers—the present and future of digital communication—which involve companies, administrations, governments, military structures, and even private citizens. From the discussion emerged the need for these physical infrastructures to be connected to the green economy, meeting the needs of local communities through dialogue. A concrete example was shared in a powerful video by Paolo Micheli, Mayor of Segrate. Respecting safety standards, facilities must therefore be integrated into public life in both ecological and social ways.

URBAN BIODIVERSITY

Though they follow different rhythms, artificial intelligence is invisibly connected to plant intelligence. This becomes evident, for example, in the field of urban biodiversity, where plant behavior can serve as a model: plants are guardians for future generations, make boundaries permeable, and adapt to specific natural conditions. Plants are living beings that do not compete with one another, but collaborate.

These premises, described in the book Think Like a Plant by Stella Saladino, shaped the second panel dedicated to biodiversity in the urban context. A multi-voice dialogue within the LAND community, led by Valentina Galiulo with contributions from Stefano Roman, Valeria Pagliaro, and Susanne Gombert.

ENERGY LANDSCAPES

Sustainable energy production lies at the core of our current transition away from fossil fuels, with effects on both ecological and social environments. Connected infrastructures should not be hidden, but integrated into both natural landscapes and collective thinking—linking, for example, energy landscapes with sustainable tourism. Already at the design stage, the future dismantling of facilities and the recovery of their natural state must be considered.

These were the themes of the third and final panel, moderated by freelance journalist Giorgia Bollati (biodiversity and sustainability), with contributions from Elena Guarnone (Edison), Francesca Casagrande (Repower Italia), and LAND’s Matteo Bulgarelli and Beatrice Magagnoli.

 

LAND OLYMPICS

At the end of the morning, the Exploring phase gave way to Collaborating. Amid the greenery and porticos of Bosco in Città, the LAND Olympics began: a series of group activities engaging every member of the community in games designed to foster multidisciplinary cooperation and overcome language barriers.

Among quizzes, and imaginative project pitches, the LANDlers shared a carefree sunny afternoon—yet strengthened by deeper and renewed bonds. Cultivating new acquaintances, but above all new insights to keep moving in the chosen direction.

As the recap video suggests, the fifth Connects is projected toward the future—a future the entire LAND community envisions as fair and resilient.