RIVA ELISABETTA

Curriculum vitae
prof. Elisabetta Riva
Present position
Associate professor (Academic field: Agricultural, forest and biosystems engineering; academic discipline: Rural buildings and agro-forest land planning, AGR/10) in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy of the University of Milan
Work Experience
Associate professor (Rural buildings and agro-forest land planning). University of Milan (2020-present)
Adjunct Professor (Rural buildings and agro-forest land planning). University of Milan (2018–2020)
Technician (Rural buildings and agro-forest land planning). University of Milan (2011–2020)
Post-doctoral research fellow (Rural buildings and agro-forest land planning). University of Milan (2006–2011)
Educational Background
PhD (Agricultural Engineering), Università degli Studi di Milano, with a dissertation on “Environmental safeguard and animal welfare for a sustainable development of intensive livestock farming” (2003-2005)
Master in Agricultural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano (1993)
Teaching activity
Prof. Riva gives seminars as an expert in the subject area of scientific disciplinary sector AGR/10. She collaborates in delivering lectures and exercises, and tutors undergraduate and master's degree students in the following courses: "Rural and forest structures", "Farm structures and the environment" and "Management of livestock waste". She also tutors undergraduate and master's degree students during their internship and thesis activities. She is the co-supervisor of 14 theses, and the tutor for 6 PhD students.
Teaching assignments
During academic years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 Prof. Riva delivered (under contract) the course: Rural constructions and land survey, 'Didactic unit 1: rural constructions'
From the 2020/2021 academic year, she delivered the following courses:
• Rural buildings and land survey, 'Didactic unit 1: rural buildings (G24-44)
• Farm structures and the environment (G26-177)
• Equipment, plants and machinery for livestock production, module "Structures for livestock farms" (G58-203_B)
• Research Enriched Education Laboratory Smartcow - Precision animal husbandry (G58-229)

Memberships in professional organizations
Member of the Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (2004–present)

Research activity
Prof. Riva's research mainly focuses on facilities, equipment, and techniques to improve environmental protection at farm and regional levels and on the design of livestock housing in relation to animal welfare.
Prof. Riva’s research objective is to reduce the environmental impact of farms while also improving the welfare conditions of farmed animals, applying the “precision livestock farming” approach.
Her research has mainly been oriented towards dairy cow facilities and developing a better understanding of the effect that environmental conditions within a barn have on performance and cow behaviour. In the context of precision livestock farming, several studies have been conducted to automatically monitor and process animal behaviour and production data in commercial and research farms. It is important to underline that the monitoring of cow activity in different environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, radiation and wind speed) has allowed the definition of design criteria for the improved rearing of dairy cows in the conditions of northern Italy.
With the research group of Prof. Giorgio Provolo, she collaborated in the development of methodologies and software tools to support the environmental assessment of livestock activities and the implementation of agri-environmental measures. These activities also analysed important issues such as phosphorus excesses produced by farms and the identification of possible interventions in the management of effluents (reduction of nutrient generation, optimization of distribution, nutrient removal treatments) to reduce the risk of atmospheric and water pollution.
Using a geographical information system, Prof. Riva collaborated in the development of a methodology for the multi-criteria assessment of agricultural areas. This system has supported local administrators by identifying the areas where it is preferable to encourage the adoption of measures to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural activities and to focus the financing actions for the reduction of emissions, with specific reference to the best livestock housing and management technologies available for the systems.
Prof. Riva estimated the impact of farms in Lombardy as part of the activities commissioned by the Istituto regionale di ricerca della Lombardia (IRER). The aim of the research was to determine the excesses of nutrients, and to formulate effluent management strategies to mitigate their environmental impact.
She has presented her research results in national and international conferences. She is the author or co-author of more than 80 publications; the more relevant of these are indexed in Scopus. (H-Index: 7; number of citations: 219; Number of papers:28; SCOPUS Author ID: 35944683000; Orcid: 0000-0003-0718-9291).
Link to Complete list of publications

Research projects
Prof. Riva was responsible for the following research projects:
• "Smart roofs - Energy performance of simplified green roofs for agricultural buildings". Funded by University of Milan - research support plan (PSR) year 2020. (ongoing)
The aim of the project is to create innovative low-cost and low-maintenance vegetated roofing mantles having a limited permanent structural load, but with adequate thermal inertia to condition the microclimate inside agricultural buildings and limit the use of energy-demanding active cooling systems.
• "Implementation of a system of decisions on the best technologies used for the management of livestock manure", funded by the University of Milan (post-doctoral research grant). Different manure treatment and storage systems were examined, and the role of transport was evaluated according to specific constraints. The research facilitated the development of models that describe the dynamics of transformation and release of nitrogen into the air during the various phases of livestock manure management (from November 2010 to September 2011).
• "Definition of the design criteria of structures for intensive farming in relation to animal welfare and the reduction of environmental impact" funded by the University of Milan (post-doctoral research grant). The aim of the research was to develop a cognitive picture of the current design method of housing buildings for dairy cattle and to increase knowledge on the interactions between the micro-environmental conditions on farms and the behaviour of animals. Climatic parameters inside breeding structures were monitored and image recording systems were used to detect the behaviour of the cows. The processing of the collected data made it possible to develop an evaluation system for existing buildings and to identify possible improvements (from November 2006 to October 2008, renewed until October 2010).
• "Development of computerized management tools for the agronomic use of wastewater in respect of the environment at company and territorial level" funded by the University of Milan as part of the Environmental Program Law 95/95: Recycling of the three-year agricultural-industrial system wastewater (October 1998 to September 2001 then extended to November 2002).
Prof. Riva also collaborated in the following research projects:
"Integrated management system of the environment in the dairy cow housings to improve the welfare and productivity of cows - GALA", funded by the Lombardy Region. The three-year project aims to create an improved management system for the housing environment in dairy farms by integrating various types of information (microclimatic, non-climatic, behavioural, productive, food, animal husbandry). The system provides elements for the automatic control of some devices, reporting to the farmer of anomalous situations or those requiring intervention, monitoring of environmental parameters inside the barn, and suggestions for improving management and environmental conditions. The introduction of this integrated environmental control system will make it possible to promote the efficient use of resources, reduce emissions, and improve the prevention and fight against plant diseases, as well as enhance animal welfare through a better indoor environment by decreasing heat stress and the high concentration of harmful gases. Riva collaborates in the design, construction, and fine-tuning of the management system. She is also involved in the organization of the demonstration days and the final technology transfer conference and in the preparation of publications (2019 - ongoing).
"Innovative plant for the conservative removal of nitrogen from livestock slurries and digestate - conservA", funded by the Lombardy Region. This three-year project aims to develop an innovative technology for the removal of nitrogen from livestock manure. The realization of a pilot plant will demonstrate the possibility of introducing the system in livestock farms. ConservA will develop and test a simplified nitrogen stripping technology to remove (in an air stream) gaseous ammonia nitrogen from slurry. The subsequent passage of the air through a sulphuric acid solution produces ammonium sulfate, which can be easily transported and used as a mineral fertilizer. The system facilitates the objective of farmers, which is not to completely eliminate valuable nutrients from the slurry, but rather to rebalance the content, particularly nitrogen, to comply with environmental legislation and avoid excessive inputs to the land. Prof. Riva collaborates in the design, construction, and fine-tuning of the stripping plant. She is also involved in the organization of the demonstration days and the final technology transfer conference and in the preparation of publications (2019 - ongoing).
"Ammonia emission reduction in Mediterranean agriculture with innovative slurry fertigation techniques – ARIMeDA”, funded by the European Union LIFE programme (LIFE16 ENV/ES/000400). The project will assess the magnitude of ammonia emission reductions that can be obtained by introducing fertigation systems to manage livestock effluents. Prof. Riva collaborates in the field trials, helps analyse the collected samples and collaborates in the processing of the resulting data. (2017-ongoing).
“Analysis and improvement interventions of the structural and management aspects of the dairy cow's welfare stable (LaStaBen)”, a demonstration project funded by the Lombardy Region. This demonstration and information project will highlight the management and environmental aspects of dairy farms, with particular reference to the welfare conditions of the cows. Prof. Riva collaborates in the preparation of information materials, coordinates the information meetings envisaged by the project, participates in the surveys of environmental and managerial parameters in the monitored farm, in the processing of the data collected and in the drafting of the technical and informative publications arising from the project (2017-2020).
“Sustainable and efficient management of farming for crop fertilization (GeSEFFE)”, a demonstration project funded by the Lombardy Region. Prof. Riva collaborates in the preparation of information materials, follows the secretariat of the information meetings associated with the project, and participates in the drafting of the technical and informative publications arising from the project (2017-2020).
"Innovative techniques for the management and treatment of effluents for the reduction of widespread water pollution in areas with high livestock intensity - Renuwal", funded by the Cariplo Foundation. This project involved the development of innovative techniques to reduce diffuse pollution of agricultural origin deriving from land fertilization. A decision support system was created for the management of farm-scale mineral and livestock fertilization to reduce nutrient losses to water through a conscious use of farm resources (considering both economic and environment objectives). Prof. Riva's role in the project was to collaborate in the experimentation on a stripping system for ammonia from livestock manure, detecting the performance of the resulting prototype and characterizing the input and output matrices from the experiments (2015-2018).
"Multi-regional solution to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of pig manure management in the region of the Po and Veneto basins, SEES-PIG", funded by “Ager-Agri-food and Research”. This project involved seven different national operational units to reduce the environmental impact and enhance the wastewater management of the pig sector. In particular, the project validated technical solutions for the management of effluents that were directly transferable to operators. The University of Milan team set up a decision support system to help choose different effluent treatment and management technologies. Prof. Riva contributed by collecting and organizing information and operational data from the various effluent treatment technologies, and also collaborated in the experimentation on solid-liquid separation systems (2011-2014).
"Evaluation of manure management and treatment technology for environmental protection and sustainable livestock farming in Europe (MANEV)”, funded by the European Union LIFE programme (LIFE09 ENV/ES/000453). This project aimed to improve the sustainability of farms in different European areas that produce surplus livestock slurry. A decision support system was developed for identifying the management and/or treatment system most suited to an individual business context and thus transfer knowledge about different types of systems available to farmers, technicians and administrators. Prof. Riva monitored a cooperative management system with ten contributing farms by collecting and analysing management and energy data of the treatment plant (anaerobic digestion and biological removal of nitrogen). Prof. Riva also sampled manure at the various stages of the process and determined its characteristics by means of laboratory analyses (2011-2015).
“Evaluation of the best existing innovative solutions in the field of technological systems for the abatement of nitrates in livestock manure ", funded by Ente Regionale per i Servizi all’Agricoltura e alle Foreste (ERSAF). Prof. Riva collaborated in the bibliographic analysis of international scientific literature (2008).
“Optimization of functional spaces and animal routes in dairy cowsheds", funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (PRIN 2007). The general objective of the project was to identify and implement innovative building and plant engineering solutions capable of improving the well-being of dairy cows and their productive and reproductive performance. Cow behaviour was assessed in relation to the frequency of feeding in two Lombardy barns. Prof. Riva contributed both to setting up the experimental plan and to carrying out surveys in the barn, which were based on video imagery that recorded the behaviour of the cows and on measured environmental parameters within the structure. Furthermore, she collaborated in the elaboration of the collected data, in the drafting of the reports and in the preparation of publications based on the results obtained (2008-2010).
"Management models for the sustainable use of livestock manure in areas with a high livestock vocation", funded by the Lombardy Region as part of the regional agricultural research program 2007-2009. The aim of this study was to provide programming and territorial planning tools for compliance with legislation to benefit the environment and safeguard the competitiveness of farms and livestock producers. Prof. Riva prepared an Agricultural Territorial Information System relating to the consistency of livestock farms and the suitability of soils for managing livestock manure. Furthermore, this system was applied on the territory of the Province of Lodi allowing the definition of a management model for the distribution of livestock manure based on a multi-criteria methodology (2007-2008).
“Development of an environmental monitoring system in intensive livestock farms”, funded by the Lombardy Region (SIMAZOO project no. 969) as part of the regional agricultural research program 2004-2006. The project involved the development of a methodology aimed at determining the volume of manure produced by a farm over time, evaluating the amount of nutrients excreted by farm animals based on the quantities of food used and the characteristics of the farm, and monitoring the periods and quantities of effluent distributed over time. Prof. Riva collaborated both in the definition of the research methodology and in the implementation of monitoring system in the study farms. Prof. Riva operationally collected farm data, handled their processing, and evaluated the farm budgets of effluents and nutrients produced (2006-2009).
“Preparation of the environmental report and the preparation of the indicators referred to in the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) procedure referred to in Directive 2001/42/EC", funded by the Province of Lodi. This project related to the Three-Year Agricultural Plan and the Forestry Plan of the Province of Lodi, and applied the experimental methodology for the implementation of the SEA in the process of adapting the PTCP in force in the Province of Lodi, pursuant to art. 26.1 of the regional law 11 March 2005, n. 12. Prof. Riva created the database and developed the methodology for data processing for the purposes of the SEA.
“Acquisition of the information cartographic base of the Province of Lodi and creation of a dedicated information system (GIS)”, financed by the Province of Lodi. Prof. Riva interfaced with technicians and acquired the provincial cartographic and numerical bases. She also contributed to the elaboration of the GIS (2006).
"Design criteria for housing structures in dairy cattle farms in Lombardy" (STABULA project no. 810), funded by the Lombardy Region as part of the Regional Agricultural Research Program 2004-2006. Under the scientific responsibility of Prof. Giorgio Provolo, this project sought to deepen the knowledge on housing structures for dairy cattle in Lombardy, especially in relation to their influence on environmental conditions and on animal welfare. Prof. Riva contributed to the study design, as well as to transferring the scientific findings concerning the relationship between buildings for housing dairy cows and environmental conditions in the housing. She also helped develop and operationally use environmental and animal behaviour monitoring systems. Prof. Riva also processed the collected data and drafted the final report (2005-2006).
“Integrated environmental analysis of the new housing structures built through the investment programs envisaged by the EC regulation 1257/99”, financed by the Internal Scientific and Technological Research Fund (FIRST). Prof. Riva collaborated in the analysis and systematization of funded practices at the provincial offices (2004).
“Development of a territorial information system for the agricultural and rural environment sector of the Province of Lodi”, financed by the Province of Lodi. Prof. Riva collaborated in the collection and systematization of data and documents of provincial and regional origin (2004).
“Monitoring system of livestock manure in Lombardy”, funded by the Lombardy Region. Prof. Riva participated in the collection and processing of data from the agronomic utilization plans, in accordance with Regional Law 37/93 (2002-2003).
"Assessment of the actual loads of agricultural origin in the surface waters of Lombardy", funded by the Lombardy Region (IReR) and commissioned as part of ongoing activities in support of the Lombardy region for the drafting of a water protection plan pursuant to Legislative Decree 152/1999-. Prof. Riva retrieved the bibliographic sources to support the evaluation (2003).
“Elaboration of guidelines for the integrated environmental management of livestock farms”, funded by the Internal Scientific and Technological Research Fund (FIRST). Prof. Riva collaborated in the analysis of plant alternatives and evaluated the influence of legislative constraints on possible choices for the use of wastewater (2003).
“Management systems for the optimization of the agronomic use of livestock manure and for the protection of the environment", funded by the Internal Scientific and Technological Research Fund (FIRST). Prof. Riva collaborated in the collection and processing of the data necessary for the elaboration of agronomic use plans (2002).
“Fertilization plans for agri-environmental measures - implementation of a procedure for the definition of fertilisation plans and preparation of a software for their compilation compatible with Giara37”, funded by the Lombardy Region. Prof. Riva collaborated in the preparation of fertilisation plans (2001-2002).
Management, organizational and service activities
From April 2005 until 2008, Prof. Riva was assigned by the University of Milan Faculty of Agriculture to manage and maintain various web sites: Agricultural Sciences and Technologies; Agrotechnologies for the Environment and the Territory; Agricultural Science; and Agri-environmental Sciences.
Since November 2014, Prof. Riva has been a member of the Safety Commission of the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Territory, Agroenergy of the University of Milan. She collaborates in defining the responsibilities of persons operating in various capacities in the Department, and in drafting the procedures that are adopted both in the laboratory and in the field pursuant to Legislative Decree 81/2008.
In 2014, Prof. Riva coordinated the organizational secretariat of the Workshop "Environmental and economic sustainability in the management of effluents in pig farms", held in Milan on 9 October 2014 as part of the multi-regional SEES-PIG Project ""Multi-regional solution to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of pig manure management in the region of the Po and Veneto basins".
In 2018, Prof. Riva coordinated the organizational secretariat of the Second Section Meeting of the Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering Milan, held in Milan on 14-15 February 2018, entitled "Situation and prospects of research in the field of rural construction and agroforestry territory".
I authorize the handling of personal information in this curriculum, according to D.Lgs n. 196/03 and following modifications and Regulations EU 679/2016 (General Regulations concerning Data Protection or GRDP) and art. 7 of University Regulations concerning protection of personal information
I authorize, according to D.lgs 14/03/2013 n. 33 concerning transparency, in case of conferment of the position and of the fellowship, the publication of this curriculum in the web site of Università degli Studi di Milano in the section “Amministrazione trasparente”, “Consulenti e collaboratori”.
Milan, 30 December 2020