Global food security relies on a limited number of crops, leaving the food system vulnerable to climate change, pests, diseases, and water shortages. Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) offer an opportunity to diversify food sources and enhance resilience to environmental and economic challenges. This study provides the first integrative assessment of Levantine WEPs, combining ethnobotanical data, conservation status, and ex situ representation to evaluate their potential as future food resources. We analyse the taxonomic diversity and primary uses (food, medicine) of 414 WEP taxa native to the region, and identify significant geographic discrepancies between plant availability, local use, and conservation efforts. Unlike previous regional reviews, our synthesis incorporates new species-level data on seed storage behavior and uniquely analyses the representativeness of Levantine germplasm in global seed banks. While a total of 386 taxa are present in x situ collections globally, only 282 have been collected in the Levant region. Among these, only 116 species are present in at least 10 seed banks. This reveals a mismatch between regional diversity and global conservation priorities and representation, with Lebanon and Palestine contributing the fewest seed accessions despite their rich WEP heritage. Moreover, despite their regional importance, only 144 taxa have been assessed for extinction risk in the wild, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of the threats these plants face. Notably, three species − Quercus calliprinos, Q. ithaburensis and Castanea sativa − exhibit seed desiccation sensitivity, making them unsuitable for conventional seed banking. WEPs like Gundelia tournefortii, Arum palaestinum, Cyclamen persicum, and Origanum syriacum, hold great potential as future crops due to their versatility and diverse uses. However, threats like overharvesting and habitat loss, along with limited nutritional and cultivation data, underscore the need for further research. Our findings provide a framework for prioritizing species for sustainable use and safeguarding and identify concrete gaps in germplasm representation and ethnobotanical documentation of WEPs in the Levant, informing future strategies in conservation, agrobiodiversity, and sustainable food systems, across the region.
Preserving the wild food heritage: Diversity, conservation and potential of Levantine edible plants
Ulian, Tiziana
2026-01-01
Abstract
Global food security relies on a limited number of crops, leaving the food system vulnerable to climate change, pests, diseases, and water shortages. Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) offer an opportunity to diversify food sources and enhance resilience to environmental and economic challenges. This study provides the first integrative assessment of Levantine WEPs, combining ethnobotanical data, conservation status, and ex situ representation to evaluate their potential as future food resources. We analyse the taxonomic diversity and primary uses (food, medicine) of 414 WEP taxa native to the region, and identify significant geographic discrepancies between plant availability, local use, and conservation efforts. Unlike previous regional reviews, our synthesis incorporates new species-level data on seed storage behavior and uniquely analyses the representativeness of Levantine germplasm in global seed banks. While a total of 386 taxa are present in x situ collections globally, only 282 have been collected in the Levant region. Among these, only 116 species are present in at least 10 seed banks. This reveals a mismatch between regional diversity and global conservation priorities and representation, with Lebanon and Palestine contributing the fewest seed accessions despite their rich WEP heritage. Moreover, despite their regional importance, only 144 taxa have been assessed for extinction risk in the wild, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of the threats these plants face. Notably, three species − Quercus calliprinos, Q. ithaburensis and Castanea sativa − exhibit seed desiccation sensitivity, making them unsuitable for conventional seed banking. WEPs like Gundelia tournefortii, Arum palaestinum, Cyclamen persicum, and Origanum syriacum, hold great potential as future crops due to their versatility and diverse uses. However, threats like overharvesting and habitat loss, along with limited nutritional and cultivation data, underscore the need for further research. Our findings provide a framework for prioritizing species for sustainable use and safeguarding and identify concrete gaps in germplasm representation and ethnobotanical documentation of WEPs in the Levant, informing future strategies in conservation, agrobiodiversity, and sustainable food systems, across the region.
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