Journal Article

From ‘Farm to Fork’: Exploring the Potential of Nutrient-Rich and Stress-Resilient Emergent Crops for Sustainable and Healthy Food in the Mediterranean Region in the Face of Climate Change Challenges

Rico, Daniel, Casals, Joan, Fondevilla, Sara, Morte, Asunción, Haros, Claudia Mónika, Soler-Rivas, Cristina, Carrillo-Vico, Antonio, Reguera, María, Rodríguez, María José, Aguiló-Aguayo, Ingrid, Fernández-García, Nieves, Caballero, Pedro A., Pedroche, Justo, Aparicio, Nieves, Matías, Javier

2024

Overview

In the dynamic landscape of agriculture and food science, incorporating emergent crops appears as a pioneering solution for diversifying agriculture, unlocking possibilities for sustainable cultivation and nutritional bolstering food security, and creating economic prospects amid evolving environmental and market conditions with positive impacts on human health. This review explores the potential of utilizing emergent crops in Mediterranean environments under current climate scenarios, emphasizing the manifold benefits of agricultural and food system diversification and assessing the impact of environmental factors on their quality and consumer health. Through a deep exploration of the resilience, nutritional value, and health impacts of neglected and underutilized species (NUS) such as quinoa, amaranth, chia, moringa, buckwheat, millet, teff, hemp, or desert truffles, their capacity to thrive in the changing Mediterranean climate is highlighted, offering novel opportunities for agriculture and functional food development. By analysing how promoting agricultural diversification can enhance food system adaptability to evolving environmental conditions, fostering sustainability and resilience, we discuss recent findings that underscore the main benefits and limitations of these crops from agricultural, food science, and health perspectives, all crucial for responsible and sustainable adoption. Thus, by using a sustainable and holistic approach, this revision analyses how the integration of NUS crops into Mediterranean agrifood systems can enhance agriculture resilience and food quality addressing environmental, nutritional, biomedical, economic, and cultural dimensions, thereby mitigating the risks associated with monoculture practices and bolstering local economies and livelihoods under new climate scenarios.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: abiotic stressors / Adaptability / Agribusiness / agricultural diversification / Agricultural industry / Agricultural management / Agricultural production / Agriculture / Amaranth / Buckwheat / Cereals / Climate change / Climatic changes / Corn / Crop diseases / Crop diversification / Crops / Cultural factors / Deserts / Diet / Diversification / Economics / Environmental conditions / Environmental factors / Environmental impact / Eragrostis tef / Evolution / farm to fork / Farmers / Flowers & plants / Food processing / Food quality / Food security / Food supply / Food systems / Functional foods / Functional foods & nutraceuticals / healthy diet / healthy diets / hemp / human health / landscapes / Local economy / markets / Mediterranean agrifood systems / Mediterranean climate / Mediterranean environments / Mediterranean region / millets / Monoculture / Moringa / NUS crops / Nutrient deficiency / nutritional quality / Nutritive value / Plant introductions / Quinoa / Resilience / Risk reduction / Salvia hispanica / Soil fertility / Sorghum / species / Sustainability / Sustainable agriculture / Wheat