Loretta Bacchetta1, Francesco Visioli2, Giulia Cappelli3, Emily Caruso4, Gary Martin4, Eva Nemeth5, Gianni Bacchetta6, Gianni Bedini7, Alexander Wezel8, Tedje van Asseldonk9, Leo van Raamsdonk10, Francesca Mariani3. 1. ENEA BIOAG-PROBIO, Rome, Italy. 2. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Italy; IMDEA-Food, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: francesco.visioli@unipd.it. 3. Institute Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council, Monterotondo, RM, Italy. 4. Global Diversity Foundation, UK. 5. Szent István University Budapest, Hungary. 6. University of Cagliari, Italy. 7. University of Pisa, Italy. 8. ISARA-Lyon, France. 9. IEZ Ltd., Beek, The Netherlands. 10. SDLO, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wild foods constitute an essential component of people's diets around the world, but despite their widespread use and their cultural importance, wild edible plants (WEPs) lack recognition as significant contributors to the human diet in developed countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We stimulate national and international bodies dealing with food and agriculture, to increase their attention and investments on WEPs, leveraging the results of scientific investigation, enhancing the link between in situ conservation strategies and sustainable use of plant genetic diversity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: WEPs should be reconsidered throughout their value chain, capturing their important socio-cultural, health, and economic benefits to indigenous and local communities and family farmers who are engaged in their production and wild-harvesting.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wild foods constitute an essential component of people's diets around the world, but despite their widespread use and their cultural importance, wild edible plants (WEPs) lack recognition as significant contributors to the human diet in developed countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We stimulate national and international bodies dealing with food and agriculture, to increase their attention and investments on WEPs, leveraging the results of scientific investigation, enhancing the link between in situ conservation strategies and sustainable use of plant genetic diversity. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: WEPs should be reconsidered throughout their value chain, capturing their important socio-cultural, health, and economic benefits to indigenous and local communities and family farmers who are engaged in their production and wild-harvesting.