Raffaele Vignola

Raffaele Vignola is an Assistant Professor at Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with the Earth Systems and Global Change subdivision. His research focuses on climate change adaptation, ecosystem services conservation, and decision-making processes in socio-ecological systems. He holds a BSc in Agronomy Engineering from the University of Florence, an MSc in Environmental Economics/Sociology, and a PhD in Science from ETH Zurich. He has held roles at CATIE (Chair of Environmental Decisions for Global Change), Wageningen University, and as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia. Currently, he is a research affiliate at the Gund Institute for the Environment (University of Vermont).

His expertise spans agricultural policy, environmental psychology, and governance frameworks for sustainable resource management. He teaches courses on water systems, climate adaptation, and integrated watershed management. Key projects include the Copernicus Climate Change Water Service and initiatives exploring food system transitions in Vietnam and Bangladesh. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining natural and social sciences to address global environmental challenges.

Notable research areas include climate-smart agriculture, food safety governance for urban poor populations, and transboundary groundwater management. His recent publications highlight innovative adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers and the socio-political dynamics shaping climate policies in Latin America and Asia.