About Us
Our Team
Amerigo Sivelli – CEO
His interests range from agriculture to architecture and education, with a particular focus on approaches that respect both the environment and the individual, from organic and biodynamic practices to experiential and innovative educational methods.
In 2011, he was awarded a scholarship by the China Scholarship Council to carry out research on Conservation Agriculture at China Agricultural University. In 2013, he founded Depu and has led the company as CEO ever since.
Since 2013, he has been Vice Director of the International Exchange Centre of the China Organic and Ecological Industry Alliance, a member of the Demeter China Council and Vice Secretary of the Chinahouse New Urbanization and Development Center.
Yang Haiyan – Interdisciplinary Designer in Children’s Sensory Environments
Yang is an interdisciplinary designer specialising in children’s sensory science, spatial environments and sensory product development. With more than 23 years’ experience in shaping children’s spaces, Yang’s achievements include the design and delivery of large kindergartens, educational institutions, activity centres and cultural tourism projects, combining strategic thinking with hands on implementation.
Since 2018, the focus of Yang’s work has expanded to children’s sensory science, sensory environments, device innovation and curriculum integration, positioning his practice among the early pioneers in China to link sensory science with spatial design for children. Working alongside educational institutions and multidisciplinary teams, Yang has realised a range of large scale sensory venues and product initiatives, grounded in sensory development principles and experience led design.
Today, Yang uses a combination of sensory science, design engineering and AI technology to support kindergartens, institutions and families with research informed, practical solutions.
Martina Zanotti – Project Designer and Manager
Martina is from Bologna and has a strong management and leadership experience. Her background spans more than 15 years multi store retail environments, commercial development and cultural exchange projects, where she consistently combines operational rigour with a human centred approach.
Within Depu, Martina contributes a solid ability to design and manage complex projects end to end, from logistics and partner coordination to supervision and problem solving during tours and classes. Her experience in leading teams and effectively delivering tailored solutions makes her a great asset when in comes to coordinate both small and large projets.
Trained in psychology and driven by continuous learning, Martina does her work with energy and curiosity, supporting both colleagues and partners with professionalism, empathy and a genuine commitment.
Mario Serantoni – Architect and Designer, Organic and Educational Architecture Specialist
Mario is particularly recognised for his pioneering work in organic and Waldorf school architecture. In 2000, he designed Italy’s first anthroposophical organic building, the Maria Graziani Waldorf School in Bologna. His architectural practice extends across a wide range of project types including nurseries, primary schools, sports and wellness centres, hospitals, laboratories, museums, transport hubs, commercial buildings, residential complexes and urban planning projects. His designs emphasise the relationship between human behaviour, psychology and architectural space.
Over the course of his career, Mario has led or contributed to numerous implemented projects throughout Italy and China, including major public buildings, educational campuses and mixed-use developments. His work also includes competition-winning designs and published projects, as well as extensive experience in renovation and adaptive reuse. Alongside professional practice, his research interests include eighteenth-century Bolognese architecture and rural landscapes, reflecting a strong theoretical foundation underpinning his applied work.
Li Xinglin – Agricultural Specialist and Co-founder
He has managed agricultural parks, large domestic farms and overseas farming operations, with extensive hands-on experience in vegetable production, field crops and selected fruit trees. His academic background in plant protection supports strong professional judgement in pesticide use, biological control methods and organic and green production standards, alongside practical experience in seeds, fertilisers and crop protection inputs.
From 1984 to 2022, Li Xinglin served as technical staff at an Agricultural Research Institute, working in vegetable cultivation, crop breeding, seed production and technology extension. His work covered key crops including wheat, maize, soybean, cotton and potatoes. He successfully bred two soybean varieties, Haocai No. 1 and Langdou No. 6, contributing to applied research and agricultural development. He has been retired since July 2022.
Li Xinglin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Protection from Hebei Agricultural University. His international experience includes organic farm inspections in Europe and Southeast Asia, research visits focused on large-scale tropical farm management in the United States and advisory work in Hungary as a vegetable cultivation expert. He has completed professional training in pesticide residue trials and GLP laboratory systems and was awarded the title of Principal Senior Agronomist at professor level in 2021.
Michela Paganini – Knowledge Management Specialist
Michela has worked in agricultural knowledge management for over twenty years. She studied Tropical Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florence and Information and Communication Technologies at the University of London.
Her desire to make information and knowledge more accessible to all has taken her into very different contexts, from rural villages in Mali to the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture in Azerbaijan. For the last ten years, Michela has been part of the team carrying forward Depu’s vision.
