The journal Plants has finally published the first scientific study on the genetic and morpho-qualitative characterization of a large collection of ancient Sicilian grains. (1) Facts, not words.
Ancient grains and scientific research
Ancient grains belong neither to bucolic mythology nor to the creative marketing of some unscrupulous operator. Instead, they represent the fruit of ongoing scientific research based on the investigation of rural traditions in the Mediterranean. With special regard to the regions of southern Italy. Indeed, the shared interest is to proceed to:
– identification of seeds, also with a view to their due traceability,
– Analysis of the genetic and qualitative differences between different ancient grains, as well as between them and so-called ‘modern grains’,
– Evaluation of the benefits that can be derived from their cultivation on vocated lands.
The goals of this research are closely related to the so-called.
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), included by the United Nations General Assembly in UN Agenda 2030. Indeed, the food supply chain plays a leading role, as noted above, in the transformations necessary for the progress of human civilization.
First and foremost, it aspires to promote sustainable production and consumption, in line with Sustainable Development Goal No. 12. which are best expressed in the biological system. Without neglecting the needs to ensure the effective sustainability of productions that do not follow this method.
Climate change, for that matter, can even be mitigated through organic cultivation of ancient grains. Which, as shown in a recent Spanish scientific study, are capable of capturing more carbon in the atmosphere than is emitted in activities related to their entire production cycles.
Characterization of ancient Sicilian grains, the CREA study
The study published in Plants was carried out by CREA researchers in collaboration with the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, and the CNR Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources in Palermo. Thanks to the Stazione Consorziale Sperimentale di Granicoltura per la Sicilia, in Caltagirone, which is also credited with making its seed collection available. (2)
The genomic identity of 27 local populations of durum wheat, 1 of soft wheat, and 2 of the most cultivated durum wheat varieties was highlighted by usingSingle Nucleotide Polymorphism ( SNP) genetic markers. Reproducible genetic fingerprinting(fingerprinting) was then carried out for each variety in the collection. The premise of ensuring the authenticity of products in the entire ancient grain supply chain.
Ancient grains, the varieties listed in the National Register
The focus is on the subset of varieties listed in the National Register of Conservation Varieties of Agricultural and Horticultural Species:
– 14 local Sicilian durum wheat populations(Biancuccia, Castiglione glabro, Ciciredda, Faricello , Gioia, Martinella, Paola, Perciasacchi, Russello, Scorsonera, Timilia reste bianche, Timilia reste nere, Tripolino, Urrìa),
– 3 of soft wheat, also of Sicilian origin(Majorca, Maiorcone, Romano),
– 2 historical varieties(Bidì and Capeiti 8).
These wheats are characterized by very high plant size, low yield but high fiber, protein, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. As well as a low or very low gluten index. (3) Extracting their genetic fingerprint is critical to identifying ancient grains and mitigating the risk of food fraud.
Ancient grains and economic prospects
In Sicily alone, the cultivation of ancient grains already affects about 6,000 hectares of land. Such crops can once again take center stage in the renaissance of the island once known as the breadbasket of Europe. Thanks to the rediscovery of the Value of Short Supply Chain and the growing interest of consumers in good and fair foods that are also healthy. And scientific research, not fashion, has already shown how traditional wheat can actually qualify as a
superfood
.
Island farms now face a great opportunity, one of the few hopes for the industry’s recovery. They just need to understand the extraordinary value of an agro-biodiversity that requires the utmost respect. And it can only be best enhanced by using the three keys of genetic identity, organic cultivation and traceability. A public blockchain, such as Wiise Chain, can enable the asseveration of data in an incorruptible system. Nothing better to promote authentic values and expose vulgar imitations. We discuss this in Catania on 24.10.19.
Dario Dongo and Paolo Caruso
Notes
(1) Maria Carola Fiore, Francesco Mercati, Alfio Spina, Sebastiano Blangiforti,
Gianfranco Venora, Matteo Dell’Acqua, Antonio Lupini, Giovanni Preiti, Michele Monti, Mario Enrico Pè, and Francesco Sunseri. (2019). Evaluation for the Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Wheat Landraces from Sicily. Plants 2019, 8, 116; doi:10.3390/plants8050116, https://res.mdpi.com/d_attachment/plants/plants-08-00116/article_deploy/plants-08-00116.pdf
(2) It was precisely the Stazione Consorziale Sperimentale di Granicoltura per la Sicilia in Caltagirone that was responsible for maintaining the cultivation of ancient grains over the decades, after these crops had been effectively abandoned, or nearly so
(3) The so-called Gluten Index (%) in ancient grains varies from low (around 30) to very low (15-20). In modern grains, it conversely has a high level, around 80
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Agronomist, collaborates with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the University of Catania, Agronomy and Herbaceous Crops section. Researcher on ancient Sicilian grains.
