Mediterranean forests abound with wild food products with unique and exclusive properties

Mediterranean forests abound with wild food products (WFP) with unique and exclusive properties. A significant proportion of the people living in this region harvest and consume WFP, yet the full commercial potential of these products has not been unlocked. As demand for WFP continues to grow, aspects such as local production, sustainability and social value added attract more and more attention from conscientious consumers. In this respect, WFP can make significant contributions to smart, inclusive bio-based economies and to development of the rural Mediterranean region, provided they are addressed in a sensible manner. This means ensuring that: (a) the definition, classification and regulation of these products is improved; (b) innovative solutions for quality, safety and sustainability are verified and upscaled; (c) marketing strategies that are conscious of the environment, social and governance (ESG) issues are promoted; (d) integrative organizational structures and business models are developed.PRIMA Wildfood "Eating the wild: Improving the value-chain of Mediterranean Wild Food Products (WFP)