Metabolic Maps: Methane Territories of the Po River Valley
This project examines the temporal and spatial dimensions of energy transition, as well as the competing imaginaries of capital, development, and power embedded within so-called “renewable” energy ventures. Focusing on the rapidly expanding biogas and biomethane sector in the lower Po Valley, I explore how different actors—including crop and livestock farmers, rural residents, and entrepreneurs—engage with the promises and pitfalls of what is often described as “factory farm gas.” During the summer of 2022, I conducted preliminary field research using associative and relational mapping methods to trace the unexpected connections linking different segments of the agro-industrial supply chain across the provinces of Ferrara and Rovigo. This approach enabled me to develop a more nuanced understanding of the social, economic, and environmental landscape through which this energy transition is unfolding.
Researcher: Mariachiara Ficarelli
Keywords: Water, Italy, Farming, Energy, Nationalisms