Many wild plants native to the Mediterranean basin that grow in the ecotonal belts and in the green infrastructures of agroecosystems have still unknown potential that can be useful for humans, not only as a source of food. Although known as taxonomic species, in several Mediterranean countries these plants are underutilized or even not used, because people do not know them as a useful source for their well-being or because they are very rare plants. Recent research has shown that their chemical composition can be excellent, even better than the corresponding cultivated species selected by man, such as Beta macrocarpa, widespread taxon in many coastal areas of Mediterranean countries, where it is classified as a species at risk of extinction (EN) and deserves to be valorised for its nutritional value, especially for those plant populations rich in individuals. It could be used on the market instead of cultivated Beta vulgaris, giving an original input to a more sustainable economy at zero km. B. macrocarpa is an halophyte species that could play a considerable role in the human Mediterranean diet having potential use in several traditional dishes, due to its high nutritional value and mineral composition. The chemical analysis of B. macrocarpa has shown an important protein content, low fat content, fiber and high carbohydrate content, which confirms the ability to use this vegetable in salads, sautéed or cooked, and/or as feed. Furthermore, it has a high content of essential mineral elements such as Na, K, Ca, Mg and Fe. Its large fruit, that give the name at the species “macrocarpa”, has high functional properties as it accumulates secondary metabolites (polyphenols and flavonoids) synthesized in stress conditions, such as salt-resistant stress, acting as antioxidants, participating in plant growth, reproduction and resistance to pathogens. The consumption of B. macrocapra leaves can therefore contribute to a balanced diet and can be used in modern diets, as a food supplement or as a functional ingredient in the new organic food products. It can be cultivated according to the organic farming system, which is based on the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological services, especially in marginal areas in order to limit forage deficit, improving the pastoral value in these regions. Therefore, it can be considered a suitable species in many environmental restoration projects in the Mediterranean Basin such as REACT4MED (https://react4med.eu/) and EcoplantMed (http://www.ecoplantmed.eu/project/) (Ben Mahmoud et al. 2024).
Another plant species of great interest actually not used in Italy is Lagoecia cuminoides, while in other countries, as Turkey and Iraq, which is geographically widespread it is used as herbal tea. In Italy this small species it is very rare and could be valorized through ex-situ propagation actions in specialized research centres. L. cuminoides is rich in beneficial compounds to human health (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anxiolytic, and anticancer active compounds). Its potential use in the food sector and agronomic role in any development programs and strategies that aim to enhance the territory and promote the resilience of communities and natural habitats is crucial, especially in marginal areas, not suitable for agricultural purposes but extremely important for the biodiversity protection (Perrino et al. 2023).
Other coastal halophyte species underutilized or not utilized in the Mediterranean environment are Salicornia sp. pl., Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, Cakile maritima, Crithmum maritimum, Allium commutatum, Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima, and Capparis spinosa (Accogli et al. 2023).
Wild Mediterranean plants and their nutritional properties as a direct or indirect source of food are the “heart” research of many Research Centres, such as the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari) as part of the international master’s degree in “Organic Agriculture” since 2020, with the aim of enhancing natural plant resources useful to human.
The REACT4MED project also has among its objectives that of enhancing the natural resources of agroecosystems through a shared approach with stakeholders. This in order to avoid land degradation and desertification with low impact use in the arid and semi-arid agricultural ecosystems of the Mediterranean Basin, promoting a more favorable living environment to support sustainable agriculture, thus also avoiding the process of human migration.
REAC4MED is financed by the PRIMA foundation and is the result of the collaboration of the following partners: SoftWater s.r.l. (Italy) (SOFTW), Technical University of Crete (Greece) (TUC), Osnabrück University (Germany) (UOS), The Cyprus Institute (Cyprus) (CYI), University of Haifa (Israel) (UH), University of Valencia (Spain) (UVEG), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (Morocco) (INRA), Istituto Agronomico mediterraneo di Bari (CIHEAM Bari), Uluslararası Tarımsal Araştırma ve Eğitim Merkezi (Turkey) (UTAEM).
Italy is represented by the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute, with Dr. Pandi Zdruli, Dr. Daniela D’Agostino and Prof. Enrico Vito Perrino. The objective of this research is to promoting and valorizing native plant resources as a source of food, in order to raise awareness of a virtuous local economy, especially in those countries affect to the desertification process.
The PRIMA Program (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) is a funding organism of the European Union with the main objective of developing research and innovation capacity and devising innovative solutions to address critical problems in the management sectors of waters and agri-food systems in the Mediterranean.

References
Accogli R., Tomaselli V., Direnzo P., Perrino E.V., Albanese G., Urbano M., Laghetti G., 2023. Edible Halophytes and Halo-Tolerant Species in Apulia Region (Southeastern Italy): Biogeography, Traditional Food Use and Potential Sustainable Crops. Plants 12, 549. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030549
Ben Mahmoud, K., Mezzapesa, G.N., Abdelkefi, F. & Perrino, E.V. (2024) Beta macrocarpa Guss. in Tunisia: nutritional and functional properties of the underutilized wild beet in relation to soil characteristics. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-024-00468-5
Perrino E.V., Mahmoud Z.N.A., Valerio F., Tomaselli V., Wagensommer R.P., Trani A., 2023. Synecology of Lagoecia cuminoides L. in Italy and evaluation of functional compounds presence in its water or hydroalcoholic extracts. Scientific Reports 13: 20906. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48065-w