The project goals deal with the introduction of Mediterranean sea fennel (C. maritimum L) germplasm well adapted to climate change and Mediterranean conditions (e.g. water shortage, high salinity) for the development of new sustainable organic cropping systems, able to (i) increase the resilience of the agro livelihood system based on agroecological principles that contribute to the zero-pollution ambition and ii) cope with limited resources and environmental constrains, with the final objectives of enhancing food production stability over time as well as increasing farmers’ incomes. Specific objectives of the project are: i) the selection of sea fennel ecotypes, well adapted to the Mediterranean climate; ii) the introduction of sustainable farming systems for production of organic sea fennel crop in the Mediterranean; iii) the development of new/improved high value products from the organic sea fennel crops; iv) the valorisation of sea fennel by-products for production of functional food ingredients/nutraceuticals/soil amendments; v) the demonstration of socio-economic benefits, environmental impacts and sustainability of the proposed innovations; vi) the dissemination of sustainable sea fennel-based cropping solutions and products in the Mediterranean.
The main objective of SEA FENNEL4MED is the introduction of new sustainable organic sea fennel (Chritmum maritimum L)-based cropping systems, able to cope with limited resources (fresh waters/fertile soils), environmental constrains (biodiversity loss, chemical pollution) and climate-related risks (soil salinization, water drought) for the enhancement of food production stability over time and increase of farmers’ incomes.
The FENNEL4MED project has been built up on the following assumptions. The world is presently over-dependent on a few plant species for the supply of staple foods. Diversification of production and consumption habits to include a broader range of undervalued and underused plant species could significantly contribute to improving human health and nutrition while increasing livelihoods and environmental sustainability in the Mediterranean. Edible wild herbs have traditionally played an important role in supplementing staple foods, and they might do so again in the future. Indeed, given their innate resilience to rapid climate change, they could play an increasingly important role in buffering against food shortage due to periods of low agricultural productivity associated with climate events. Among edible wild herbs, halophytes include salt-resistant plants equipped with well-defined adaptive mechanisms that enable them not only to withstand periodical high salinity, but also to complete their entire lifecycles under saline conditions. More specifically, halophytes are known to generate economic yields, although exposed to salt stress conditions. Within the context of an ever-growing population and the limited and expensive water supply, “halophyte agriculture” is hence a valuable agronomic alternative. It has been esteemed that the 21st century will likely be the century of halophyte agriculture expansion, as diminishing freshwater resources put pressure on civilization to utilize the vast saline soils and aquifers. Though soil/water salinity is an old phenomenon, this environmental problem has been aggravated by modern intensive agricultural practices and the increasing irrigation needs. Accordingly, the possibility of cultivating halophyte crops under water and saline stress conditions represents a sustainable and profitable opportunity. A large body of information on halophytes is accumulating and the effort to develop useful ecotypes is only beginning. Wild, or partially domesticated halophytes already exist in virtually all regional ecosystems, and especially in the Mediterranean. The domestication and valorisation of these new crops can be an important addition to the Mediterranean agriculture and sustainable food biodiversity. Among halophytes, C. marithimum L., commonly known as sea fennel, rock samphire, or St. Peter’s Herb, grows spontaneously in coastlines, being particularly abundant in Mediterranean countries, including Italy, North Africa, Croatia, Turkey, and Greece. Based on these assumptions, multiple test sites across the Mediterranean basin, including coastal areas in Italy, Croatia, North Africa, Greece, France, and Turkey (corresponding to natural habitats where this specific halophyte grows spontaneously) will be used for selection of sea fennel ecotypes with the highest nutritional/biological potential. Selected ecotypes will be cultivated in demo and field trials according to the principles of organic agriculture. Since Mediterranean climate is broadly characterized by two geographical gradients: North/South, with a warmer and drier South, and West/East, greatly influenced by Atlantic/Asian circulation, cultivation trials will be performed in different Mediterranean sites (Italy, Croatia, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey). Preliminary demo field tests will be crucial to identify the ecotypes with the best agronomic performance. Selected ecotype(s) will be hence assayed in industrial scale open field trials carried out at an Italian farm with expertise in cultivation of sea fennel. Once the new organic crops are available, they will be processed for the manufacture of laboratory-scale prototypes of new sustainable foods/food ingredients. Prototypes will be validated by several tests aimed at assessing their nutritional/sensory/functional traits. By-products of the new crops will be valorised exploiting their “hidden value” as a potential source of bioactive extracts for the manufacturing of functional food ingredients/nutraceuticals. The final residues from extraction of bioactive compounds will be assayed in composting trials.
The SEAFENNEL4MED goals will be reached thanks to a strong synergy between 8 Partners from 5 Mediterranean countries (IT, FR, HR, TN, TR), including Public Universities and Research Institutes and a micro-sized farm producing sea fennel crops and sea fennel-based foods. Different test sites across the Mediterranean basin will be used for selection of sea fennel ecotypes with the highest nutritional/biological potential. Selected ecotypes will be assayed in demo and open field cultivation trials. After multiple analyses, the new organic crops will be exploited for the formulation of new foods and food ingredients whereas by-products will exploited for manufacturing of nutraceuticals and soil amendments.
The Project relates to PRIMA 2021 -Section 2 – Thematic Area 2, Topic 2.2.1. The project addresses all the specific challenges of this thematic area by: I. introducing more sustainable agriculture and food production systems with more efficient use of a natural resource (sea fennel) with a high climate change resilience/adaptation, high economic potential; II. improving economic and social resilience of Mediterranean smallholder farming systems to climate change; III. contributing to the zero-waste farming systems target; IV. decreasing use of chemical inputs; V. increasing income of the farmers from biodiversity use, improved farming techniques and organic certification; VI. promoting youth engagement and women empowering; VII. encouraging consumption of food produced using more sustainable practices
