SANDRO DERNINI, PhD
Complete CV
Doctorate in Biology, School of Science, University of Cagliari, Italy (1974)
PhD. in Art Education, School of Education, New York University (1997)
30 years’ experience in the organization and the scientific coordination of international conferences and art & science events, including three World Conferences on the Revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet, in 2016 in Milan, in 2019 in Palermo, and in 2022 in Bari.
In 2014, he received the Award of Excellence in Food Sustainability by IACON-SENC at the Third World Conference of Public Health Nutrition in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. In 2021, he received the Ancel and Margaret Keys Award at the 2nd International Agrobiodiversity Congress.
Since early 90’s, Dr. Dernini is fostering an enduring transdisciplinary dialogue among international experts, from different disciplines and cultures, linking the notion of the well-being to the Mediterranean diet, food security and sustainability in the Mediterranean. He co-founded and coordinated several international initiatives, such as: the SFS-MED Platform, the International Foundation of Mediterranean Diet (IFMeD), the Forum on Mediterranean Food Cultures, the International Interuniversity Centre for Mediterranean Food Cultures Studies (CIISCAM) at the Sapienza University of Rome, the Consortium on the Well-Being in the XXI Century, the Interdepartmental Well Being Centre of the University of Cagliari, and Plexus International, an informal network of artists and scientists.
He published as author or co-editor 6 books and more than 60 scientific articles on the Mediterranean diet and sustainable diets.
CURRENT POSITION
- Coordinator, SFS-MED Platform Coordination Desk, a multistakeholder initiative on Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean, initiated by FAO, CIHEAM, Union for the Mediterranean and PRIMA Foundation
- President, Forum on Mediterranean Food Cultures
- President, Plexus International Forum Onlus
- Senior Advisor, CIHEAM-Bari
Since early 80s, Sandro Dernini is coordinating Plexus International, an informal network of artists and scientists that is still playing a seminal role in the conception and realization of numerous collaborative, cross-cultural, art&science events, linking the notion of "art" and “food” to the concept of "well-being" - as a multicultural paradigm enhancing the quality of life in the community.
SANDRO DERNINI, Ph.D.
Books
- Dernini S. and Capone R. (eds.) (2024).Sustainable Food Systems: Change of Route in the Mediterranean. CIHEAM Bari, Valenzano: CIHEAM Bari doi.org/10.48259/bc1962f
- Dernini S. and Capone R. (eds.) (2022). A change of route: towards more sustainable and resilient food systems in the Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean diet as a strategic resource for accelerating the Agenda 2030 in the Region. The 3rd world conference on the revitalization of Mediterranean diet, Bari 28-30 September 2022. Valenzano: CIHEAM Bari. https://doi.org/10.48259/bc1961b
- Capone R., Dernini S. Eds. (2020). Strategies towards more sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean region: The Mediterranean Diet as a lever for bridging consumption and production, in a sustainable and healthy way. CIHEAM. Bari.
- Burlingame, B. and Dernini, S. Eds. (2019). Sustainable Diets. Linking Nutrition and Food Systems. CABI. Oxfordshire/Boston
- Meybeck, A., Redfern, S., Hachem F., , Capone, R., S. Dernini, S. (Eds), (2017). Development of Voluntary Guidelines for the Sustainability of Mediterranean Diet in the Mediterranean Region. FAO/CIHEAM. Rome
- Burlingame, B. and Dernini, S. Eds. (2012). Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity. Directions and Solutions for Policy, Research and Action. FAO. Rome
- Dernini, S. (2007). Plexus Black Box. A Multicultural Aesthetic Inquiry on An International Community-Based Art Project. Casa Editrice Università “La Sapienza”. Rome
Book Chapters and Articles in Scientific Journals
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Hwalla, N., Trichopoulou, A., Delarue, J., Adinolfi, F, Brighenti, F., Burlingame, B., Capone, R., Dernini, S., El Moujabber, M., Gonzalez-Gross, M., Vecchio, Y., Massouh, N., Naja, F. (2025). Proposing a unified Mediterranean diet score to address the current conceptual and methodological challenges in examining adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Frontiers in Nutrition,12, 1533176.
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Capone R., Miano T., Dernini S. (2025). Food Environment and digital technologies, tools for the sustainable transformation of food systems in the Mediterranean. New Medit Journal 24 (4). 149-152
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Capone R., Dernini S. (2024). Sustainable food systems. Change of route in the mediterranean. New Medit Journal; Vol. 23 (3). 129-132
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Dernini, S. (2023). La diète méditerranéenne est-elle durable?. Cahiers de Nutrition et de Diététique; 5-58 : 295-304
- Burlingame, B., Lawrence, M., Macdiarmid, J., Dernini, S., & Oenema, S. (2022). Linking Nutrition and Food Systems. IUNS Sustainable Diets Task Force. Trends in Food Science & Technology.
- Dernini, S. (2022). Dietas sostenibles en el contexto de systemas alimentarios sostenibles: Retos para el presente y para el futuro. In: F. Xavier Medina, F.X. Lorenzo Mariano, L., Conde, D. and Alicia Aguilar A.(eds.). Consumo alimentario y sostenibilidad. Mra Ediciones 19-42
Proceedings
- Dernini, S. (2012) The Characterization of the Mediterranean Diet as a Sustainable Diet. 10th Israeli Nutrition Week, 12-14 June 2012, 10A.
- Burlingame, B., Charrondiere, R., Dernini, S. (2012). Improving Dietary Assessment Methodologies for Charactering Sustainable Diets. 8th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, Rome, 14-17 May 2012, 60.
- Burlingame, B., Dernini, S. (2011). Diete Sostenibili: La Nutrizione come Servizio Ecosistemico. 1° Congresso Nazionale della Rete Italiana per la Ricerca in Agricoltura Biologica, 7-8 November 2011, 75.
- Dernini, S. (2010). The Mediterranean Diet: A World Heritage of Diversity, An Example of Sustainable Diet. Evolution Day-La Biodiversità è Bello, Milan, 23-24 November 2010, 8-11.
- Dernini, S. (2009). Mediterranean Diet as an Underestimated Sustainable Resource. 3° International Conference Encuentros en el Mediterraneo, Sevilla, 26 June 2009, 12-17.
- Dernini, S. (2007). North-South Food Dialogues in the Mediterranean Rim. Federation of African Nutrition Societies Congress, Ouarzazate (Marocco), 7-9 May 2007, 26.
- Dernini, S. (2007) The Experience of the Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Food Cultures: An Interdisciplinary Intercultural Approach. Federation of African Nutrition Societies Congress, Ouarzazate (Morocco), 7-9 May 2007, 61.
- Dernini, S. (2005). The Barcelona process and the importance of the Mediterranean diet to preserve the Mediterranean food cultures heritage from the increasing erosion. 2nd International Conference “Traditional Medterranean Diet: Past, Present and Future”, Athens, 20-22 April 2005, 12.
- Dernini, S. (2004). The Present Role of the Mediterranean Diet and the Sustainable Development of the Mediterranean Food Cultures. International Conference Traditional Medterranean Diet: Past, Present and Future, Athens, 21-23 April 2004, 143-146.