The 2025 edition of the Capitanio Award was especially intense and emotionally engaging. A large number of theses were submitted, and the jury faced a challenging task due to the high quality and technical depth of the work received. The judging panel was composed of:

• Prof. Barbara De Lucia – University of Bari
• Dr. Oronzo Milillo – President of ODAF Bari
• Dr. Renato Ferretti – Agronomist, Vice President of CONAF, and Editorial Director of LineaVerde–GreenItaly
• Maurizio Lapponi – Founding Member of ANVE
• Leonardo and Simone Capitanio – Capitanio Nurseries

The selection process was demanding, reflecting the strong technical content and wide-ranging relevance of the theses submitted.

Rewarding young excellence has always held great meaning for both ANVE and Capitanio Nurseries—especially because it is the new generation that will shape the future of our sector. As with any competition, however, only two candidates reached the podium: Dr. Gloria Brocca, with her thesis “Assessment of the Impact of Nursery Techniques and Field Management Practices on Establishment, Post-Transplant Growth, and Physiology of Urban Tree Species” and Dr. Lorenzo Lampertico, with his thesis “Green Space Design in the Context of Climate Change: Implementing Xeriscaping in the Case Study of Viarigi”