Halophytes for future horticulture: The case of small-scale farming in the Mediterranean Basin

Mediterranean agro-ecosystems host also a very rich patrimony of wild edible plants that have always represented an important food source for the rural communities of the Mediterranean area, and several studies have demonstrated their relevant role in the traditional Mediterranean diets. Despite worldwide interest in the so-called health foods or super-foods, only a few of these native species have been incorporated in commercial cultivation systems, whereas most of them are usually gathered by hand from self-seeding wild plants. Moreover, Mediterranean agriculture is characterized by small-scale farms, which are considered to be the backbone of farming sector and crop production in the region and are essential to the preservation and development of rural area economies, especially under the ongoing climate change the world is facing. The present chapter will present the most up-to-date information regarding the chemical composition and bioactive properties of the most important wild halophytes of the Mediterranean basin, case studies of their commercial exploitation, as well as future prospects for further exploitation focusing on preservation of native genetic material and improved management of the natural and agricultural environment.