Augustus Marinelli he graduated in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florence, where he completed the entire academic career. Full professor of Forestry and Environmental Economics and Estimate, he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture for four terms (1988-2000) and then Rector of the University of Florence for three terms (2000-2009). In these periods he was President of the Conference of Deans of Italian Agricultural Faculties and member of the board of the Conference of Rectors. Again in the area of university governance, he was elected to the National University Council for two terms and nominated by the CNEL for a third term (1979-1988).
His contribution to academic scientific societies is demonstrated by the presidency of the Italian Society of Agricultural Economists for two terms; he was also co-founder and President of the Center for Appraisal Studies and Territorial Economics and managing director of the Aestimum magazine for a total of 12 years, as well as founder and President of the Italian Association of Agricultural Scientific Societies and Vice President of the Italian Academy of Sciences
Forestry. He also chaired the evaluation unit of the University of Salerno for two terms.
The scientific and editorial production is testified by over 200 publications. At an institutional level he was, as a technician, Councilor for Agriculture of the Province of Florence (1995-2000), member of the Strategic Committee for the adoption of the Euro and of the scientific council of the CNR, President of the Consultation Committees and National Editions at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and member of the National Committee for Food Safety at the Ministry of Health.
He has received numerous awards and recognitions, among which the appointment by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi as Officer of the Grand Cross of Merit of the Italian Republic.