Assessing the Interlinkage between Biodiversity and Diet through the Mediterranean Diet Case

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Healthy and sustainable diets are crucial for combating climate change and noncommunicable diseases.
• The Mediterranean diet (MD) is recognized for promoting biodiversity, nutrition, sustainable development, and food security.
• Integrating underutilized crops into food value chains is essential for sustainable food systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore food plant biodiversity (species, subspecies, varieties, races) within the Mediterranean diet (MD) and Western-type diets.
• To compare food plant diversity between MD and Western consumption patterns across 12 European and North African countries.
• To investigate the relationship between dietary patterns, crop utilization, crop availability, and biodiversity.

Main Methods:

• Data were sourced from MEDUSA and Euro+Med databases, encompassing 449 species and 2366 subspecies, varieties, and races.
• Countries were categorized into MD and Western diet groups based on subregional attributes and prevalent dietary patterns.
• Statistical analysis was employed to compare cultivated and native food plant diversity between the two dietary groups.

Main Results:

• The average number of majorly cultivated food plants was significantly higher in the MD group compared to the Western diet group.
• No significant difference was found in the average number of native food plants between the MD and Western diet groups.
• Higher food plant diversity in the MD is attributed to diverse crop utilization rather than greater crop availability.

Conclusions:

• A strong interlinkage exists between biodiversity and prevailing dietary patterns.
• Biodiversity is a prerequisite for dietary diversity and subsequent nutrition security.
• Dietary and nutritional approaches must consider broader agro-food and ecological system contexts.