Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants: Diversity, Conservation and Potential Use

The gathering and consumption of Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) has provided a fundamental resource for food security in the Mediterranean for centuries. WEPs are highly nutritious, well adapted to local environments, and deeply rooted in traditional cultures. However, they are currently disappearing due to changes in food systems and habitat degradation. Today, fewer than ten cultivated species account for 90% of the world’s caloric intake, while climate change increasingly threatens their cultivation. In this context, reintegrating WEPs into agricultural systems can contribute to dietary diversification and strengthen crop resilience. This PhD thesis aims to explore the potential of Mediterranean WEPs in relation to the impacts of climate change, through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates ethnobotany and seed ecology. The research led to the development of the first comprehensive checklist of Mediterranean WEPs and a detailed analysis of their in situ and ex situ conservation status in the Levant region. Subsequently, germination tests were conducted on a subset of priority species at the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR), assessing their resilience under future climate scenarios. The results identify the species most suitable for sustainable food use and those of highest conservation priority, providing a foundation for local strategies of protection and valorisation.