Empowering Vulnerable Communities: Exploring New Food Spaces and Values in Agriculture Through Exemplary Practices

The aim of the study is to analyze the use of agricultural activities in new spaces within the context of the rehabilitative and socio-labor reintegration process for incarcerated individuals. New spaces refer to correctional facilities where novel instances and practices have emerged to redefine aspects of food pro- duction. Law 141 of August 18, 2015, promotes social agriculture by advocating for the integration of agricultural practices and social services through the diver- sification of rural activities. These social activities represent forms of innovation with broader societal implications. In Italy, agricultural work experiences within prisons vary and involve differ- ent types of detention facilities. The analytical indicators are derived from national and international literature. Specifically, the study examines examples of virtuous models, serving as instances of best practices to empirically illustrate the type of agricultural social innovation adopted in spaces whose primary function is not productive but carceral. It explores how the establishment of such activities within correctional facilities can contribute to well-being, inclusion, and societal benefits, shedding light on the broader impact of these innovations.