INCUSO

INCUSO is dedicated to creating and sharing foods that result from thoughtful design in production processes and new, sustainable relationships. Their mission is to bring innovative design tools to the agri-food sector, aiming to redesign the entire value chain and restore both economic vitality and cultural dignity to local supply networks.

Back in 2011, Pasquale Bonsignore, the founder of INCUSO, found himself facing a challenging scene: abandoned centuries-old olive groves and neglected land—powerful symbols of a community in need of support. This landscape became the starting point of a journey built on research and forming meaningful relationships. Through this, they conducted a thorough analysis of the main issues facing the area: a fragmented agricultural supply chain, limited profitability, and a lack of innovation driven partly by scarce resources and an overly nostalgic attachment to a romanticized past that never truly existed.

While the goal might seem ambitious—almost utopian—it’s about innovating outdated production methods to turn raw materials into not just food but also tools for generating income for small-scale farmers, celebrating the land, and revitalising often-overlooked areas. At INCUSO, they believe that traditions only have value if they can evolve. For them, innovation doesn’t mean discarding the past but transforming it into a resource for building the future.

That’s part of why their name is inspired by the ancient coin minting technique of Selinunte, INCUSO—a symbol of authenticity and value. Just as coins left a lasting impression, INCUSO hopes to leave a meaningful mark on the agricultural world by turning crops into opportunities for growth.

Their aim is to develop a sustainable production model that places people and territories at the heart, ensuring prosperity and balance over the long haul. The INCUSO approach is straightforward but bold, inspired by the very essence of design:
– Examine struggling supply chains
– Seek innovative solutions
– Experiment with new techniques and collaborative efforts
– Produce food that provides income, improves the land, and breathes new life into entire regions

INCUSO’s journey started in Castelvetrano, in the province of Trapani, where they studied the local market and enhanced the production process of extra virgin olive oil. In 2016, they expanded their focus to Pantelleria, an island facing its own challenges, choosing to work with capers, oregano, and Zibibbo raisins. Later, in Campania, they began transforming four varieties of red and yellow tomatoes, continuing their commitment to building a sustainable future for local agriculture.