The attention to the rural areas and its policy instruments, have long been among the main activities of Center.

Through two observatories, one for the structural policies and the other for the forests, the Institute, has been able to consolidate a significant cognitive base on the main phenomena of rural areas. Furthermore, the institute has consolidated lines of research on rural policies and its specific means of study. At the same time, considerable attention has been given to the definition of innovative methodological approaches and the study of emergent phenomena, all in a network-based logic which sees Center collaborate with many actors at national and international level.

The next few years will see the Center institute involved in the study of the situations generated by the economic and financial crisis. From these studies models of resource utilization will be produced in the various territories that see in the rural development relevant elements of innovation and sustainability. These models should bring to the attention of a wider audience to propose these changes, both the scientific community and institutions working in the field of rural development. 

Regarding the activities of technical and scientific support, the Institute should be in line in an authoritative way in the discussion on these issues, linked to the reform of the CAP 2014-2020. The latter, in fact, introduces elements of innovation over which the Institute has focused heavily in the past years. In terms of analysis and study, the Institute will continue to be a point of reference for the national and regional administrations.