"We must oppose the destruction of biodiversity and cultural diversity by building our living environment according to nature's own suggestions." (Eugenio Turri, Il paesaggio e il silenzio)
The Mediterranean basin is the center of origin for many plant species that are now cultivated far beyond its borders
Excluding algae, Italy hosts approximately 6,700 species of higher plants, plus an additional 1,130 species of mosses. The combination of natural selection and human-driven artificial selection has enabled the evolution of countless plant varieties, adapted to both environmental conditions and agricultural needs.
Traditional crops have supported intraspecific variability, that is, genetic differences among populations within the same species - a factor that enhances resistance to environmental stress and disease.
Excluding ornamental species, the number of cultivated plant species in Italy stands at 665. However, for decades we have witnessed processes of “genetic erosion”, meaning a loss of intraspecific biodiversity that endangers even agriculturally important species. According to FAO estimates, around three-quarters of the plant genetic resources available at the beginning of the last century have been lost.
Today, out of approximately 6,000 plant species cultivated for food, only nine account for two-thirds of total production: sugarcane, maize, rice, wheat, potato, soybean, oil palm, sugar beet, and cassava. This figure highlights the extreme poverty and fragility of our current agri-food system.
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