IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i6p4921-d1092898.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Underutilized Vegetable Crops in the Mediterranean Region: A Literature Review of Their Requirements and the Ecosystem Services Provided

Author

Listed:
  • Dimitrios P. Platis

    (Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Protection, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Eleni Papoui

    (Laboratory of Vegetable Crops, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Filippos Bantis

    (Laboratory of Vegetable Crops, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Andreas Katsiotis

    (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Geotechnical Sciences and Environmental Management, Cyprus University of Technology, 50329 Limassol, Cyprus)

  • Athanasios Koukounaras

    (Laboratory of Vegetable Crops, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Andreas P. Mamolos

    (Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Protection, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Konstadinos Mattas

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

By 2050, the increasing demand for food will put additional pressure on natural resources. Underutilized crops, such as wild vegetables, are an essential component of the Mediterranean diet and are widely correlated with the traditional cuisine of Mediterranean countries. They could be widely associated with resistance to abiotic stress and enhanced genetic diversity, and could provide various ecosystem services. Their cultivation could support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN and the current EU policies related to environmentally friendly agriculture. Based on an extensive literature review, the aim of this paper is to summarize the environmental and ecological requirements of specific Mediterranean underutilized vegetables, the provisioning and regulating ecosystem services that could be derived from their cultivation, and their potential use. It is concluded that thorough planning of underutilized crop cultivation could enhance the provisioning and regulating ecosystem services that positively affect Mediterranean agriculture. However, further research should be carried out regarding their environmental and economic impact in order to assess the environmental and socio-economic effects of underutilized crops cultivation. This could lead to designing future policies that support underutilized crop cultivation and consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Dimitrios P. Platis & Eleni Papoui & Filippos Bantis & Andreas Katsiotis & Athanasios Koukounaras & Andreas P. Mamolos & Konstadinos Mattas, 2023. "Underutilized Vegetable Crops in the Mediterranean Region: A Literature Review of Their Requirements and the Ecosystem Services Provided," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:4921-:d:1092898
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/4921/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/4921/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mario V. Balzan & Renata Sadula & Laura Scalvenzi, 2020. "Assessing Ecosystem Services Supplied by Agroecosystems in Mediterranean Europe: A Literature Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Wood, Sylvia L.R. & Jones, Sarah K. & Johnson, Justin A. & Brauman, Kate A. & Chaplin-Kramer, Rebecca & Fremier, Alexander & Girvetz, Evan & Gordon, Line J. & Kappel, Carrie V. & Mandle, Lisa & Mullig, 2018. "Distilling the role of ecosystem services in the Sustainable Development Goals," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(PA), pages 70-82.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nikolina Vidalis & Maria Kourkouvela & Dimitrios-Christos Argyris & Georgios Liakopoulos & Alexios Alexopoulos & Spyridon A. Petropoulos & Ioannis Karapanos, 2023. "The Impact of Salinity on Growth, Physio-Biochemical Characteristics, and Quality of Urospermum picroides and Reichardia picroides Plants in Varied Cultivation Regimes," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-26, September.
    2. Yannis E. Doukas & Luca Salvati & Ioannis Vardopoulos, 2023. "Unraveling the European Agricultural Policy Sustainable Development Trajectory," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-24, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mostafa Shaaban & Carmen Schwartz & Joseph Macpherson & Annette Piorr, 2021. "A Conceptual Model Framework for Mapping, Analyzing and Managing Supply–Demand Mismatches of Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Pires, Aliny P.F. & Rodriguez Soto, Clarita & Scarano, Fabio R., 2021. "Strategies to reach global sustainability should take better account of ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    3. Fatemeh Mohammadyari & Ardavan Zarandian & Mir Mehrdad Mirsanjari & Jurate Suziedelyte Visockiene & Egle Tumeliene, 2023. "Modelling Impact of Urban Expansion on Ecosystem Services: A Scenario-Based Approach in a Mixed Natural/Urbanised Landscape," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-24, January.
    4. Jones, Sarah K. & Boundaogo, Mansour & DeClerck, Fabrice A. & Estrada-Carmona, Natalia & Mirumachi, Naho & Mulligan, Mark, 2019. "Insights into the importance of ecosystem services to human well-being in reservoir landscapes," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    5. Li-Pei Peng, 2020. "Understanding Human–Nature Connections Through Landscape Socialization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-18, October.
    6. Exley, G. & Hernandez, R.R. & Page, T. & Chipps, M. & Gambro, S. & Hersey, M. & Lake, R. & Zoannou, K.-S. & Armstrong, A., 2021. "Scientific and stakeholder evidence-based assessment: Ecosystem response to floating solar photovoltaics and implications for sustainability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    7. Elaine Aparecida Rodrigues & Maurício Lamano Ferreira & Amanda Rodrigues de Carvalho & José Oscar William Vega Bustillos & Rodrigo Antonio Braga Moraes Victor & Marcelo Gomes Sodré & Delvonei Alves de, 2022. "Land, Water, and Climate Issues in Large and Megacities under the Lens of Nuclear Science: An Approach for Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG11)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    8. Asitha De Silva & Dilanthi Amaratunga & Richard Haigh, 2022. "Green and Blue Infrastructure as Nature-Based Better Preparedness Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction: Key Policy Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    9. Anjinho, Phelipe da Silva & Barbosa, Mariana Abibi Guimarães Araujo & Costa, Carlos Wilmer & Mauad, Frederico Fábio, 2021. "Environmental fragility analysis in reservoir drainage basin land use planning: A Brazilian basin case study," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    10. Fernando Chapa & María Perez Rubi & Jochen Hack, 2023. "A Systematic Assessment for the Co-Design of Green Infrastructure Prototypes—A Case Study in Urban Costa Rica," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    11. Gricelda Herrera-Franco & Néstor Montalván-Burbano & Carlos Mora-Frank & Lady Bravo-Montero, 2021. "Scientific Research in Ecuador: A Bibliometric Analysis," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-34, December.
    12. Sharma, Rozi & Malaviya, Piyush, 2023. "Ecosystem services and climate action from a circular bioeconomy perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    13. Valencia Torres, Angélica & Tiwari, Chetan & Atkinson, Samuel F., 2021. "Progress in ecosystem services research: A guide for scholars and practitioners," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    14. Nguyet Anh Dang & Rubianca Benavidez & Stephanie Anne Tomscha & Ho Nguyen & Dung Duc Tran & Diep Thi Hong Nguyen & Ho Huu Loc & Bethanna Marie Jackson, 2021. "Ecosystem Service Modelling to Support Nature-Based Flood Water Management in the Vietnamese Mekong River Delta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-28, December.
    15. Ananya Tiwari & Luís Campos Rodrigues & Frances E. Lucy & Salem Gharbia, 2022. "Building Climate Resilience in Coastal City Living Labs Using Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-29, August.
    16. Aryal, Kishor & Maraseni, Tek & Apan, Armando, 2023. "Spatial dynamics of biophysical trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services in the Himalayas," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    17. Pires, Aliny P.F. & Amaral, Aryanne G. & Padgurschi, Maíra C.G. & Joly, Carlos A. & Scarano, Fabio R., 2018. "Biodiversity research still falls short of creating links with ecosystem services and human well-being in a global hotspot," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(PA), pages 68-73.
    18. Renata Aguayo Lopes da Silva & Renato Cesar Gonçalves Robert & Thomas Purfürst, 2023. "How Is the Forest Sector’s Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Being Addressed? A Systematic Review of the Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-25, June.
    19. Jarmila Makovníková & Stanislav Kološta & Filip Flaška & Boris Pálka, 2023. "Factors Influencing the Spatial Distribution of Regulating Agro-Ecosystem Services in Agriculture Soils: A Case Study of Slovakia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-22, April.
    20. Kong, Xuesong & Fu, Mengxue & Zhao, Xiang & Wang, Jing & Jiang, Ping, 2022. "Ecological effects of land-use change on two sides of the Hu Huanyong Line in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:4921-:d:1092898. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.