The aim of this research is to contribute to food security by studying the development of integrated organic production models related to the biodiversity of food sources, soil fertility and water availability, both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sicily. Using the FAO's multi-facetted approach of the Sustainable Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) Tool, combined with interviews and visits to two organic farming communities in the UAE and Sicily, preliminary results were obtained consisting of: SAFA reports for each farmer and each community and the identification of some additional SAFA Tool indicators for local markets and migrant worker relations. Overall, the two systems contain elements described in the literature, such as Short Food Local Systems and as such contribute to territorial food support. Some best practices in organic production, direct marketing and migrant worker integration were identified and shared with farmers. The study highlights some operational issues that will be further focused upon in the future.

A microwave distillation method was optimized for the extraction and isolation of cannabis essential oil from fresh and dried hemp inflorescences. The developed method enabled us to obtain a distilled product rich in terpenes and terpenoid compounds, responsible of the typical and unique smell of the cannabis plant. The distillate from different hemp cultivars, including Kompolti, Futura 75, Carmagnola, Felina 32 and Finola were characterized by using a gas chromatograph equipped with both mass spectrometer and flame ionization detectors. In a single chromatographic run, the identity and absolute amounts of distilled compounds were determined. Peak assignment was established using a reliable approach based on the usage of two identification parameters, named reverse match, and linear retention index filter. Absolute quantification (mg g−1) of the analytes was performed using an internal standard method applying the flame ionization detector (FID) response factors according to each chemical family. An enantio-GC-MS method was also developed in order to evaluate the enantiomeric distribution of chiral compounds, an analytical approach commonly utilized for establishing the authenticity of suspicious samples.

Spontaneous populations of Silybum marianum L. of three environments were evaluated for their biological and productive traits. Despite the different environmental conditions of the studied sites (hill and plane), there was a general uniformity in the main observed plant traits. Hilly environments produced a higher number of secondary flower heads compared with the plane site. Seeds in the secondary flower heads had a conspicuously lower weight (Ϫ56%) when compared to the primary ones. Plant height and height of the first branch insertion was positively related, directly or indirectly, to the seed yield. A first approach for the definition of an ideotype is proposed.

Climate change, recurrent economic and financial crises and food security issues are forcing society to look at the increasingly widespread use of “sustainable” production practices. These are often translated into innovations for businesses that are not always easily achievable other than through specific investments. This work sets out to assess the sustainability performance of organic farms, which represent a sustainable production model in terms of values, standards, practices and knowledge on the ground. The research was carried out in two geographical contexts (the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sicily, Italy) which have certain environmental and socio-economic issues in common, particularly in productive sectors representative of organic agriculture. This was done with the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA, in the rest of the text) framework and social network analysis to study the sustainability performance of organic farms within non-structured local production systems in the form of formal enterprise networks that, on the contrary, operate with a recognized and common aim. The results demonstrate both their attainment of excellence and the existence of criticalities, thus, identifying routes to possible improvement.

Rhus coriaria L. (Anacardiaceae), commonly known as sumac, has been used since ancient times for many different applications, and nowadays is used mostly as a spice obtained from its in the Mediterranean and the Middle ground fruits and employed for flavoring and garnishing food, predominantly Eastern regions. Traditionally, sumac has been also used in popular medicine for the treatment of many ailments including hemorrhoids, wound healing, diarrhea, ulcers, and eye inflammation. Sumac drupes are indeed rich in various classes of phytochemicals including organic acids, flavonoids, tannins, and others, which are responsible of their powerful antioxidant capacity, from which treatment of many common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer could benefit. In this work we evaluated the influence of fruit ripeness, conservation, and processing. To this aim, a phytochemical characterization of six different samples of Rhus coriaria L. was carried out. Specifically, headspace solid-phase micro extraction gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection, were employed. A total of 263 volatile compounds, including terpene hydrocarbons, acids, and aldehydes, as well as 83 polyphenolic compounds, mainly gallic acid derivatives, were positively identified. All samples showed a significant antioxidant activity by means of oxygen radical absorbance capacity, in line with their polyphenolic content and composition. Such findings set a solid ground to support the utilization of this plant as an attractive target for novel nutraceutical approaches and for drug discovery.

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) is an annual legume with a long crop cycle and high temperature threshold for seed germination (20-21°C). In semi-arid Mediterranean areas, inadequate soil warmth delays guar planting to May/early June and harvest to October-November, when high rainfall hinders seed maturation and lowers gum quality. Nine world guar genotypes (from India, Pakistan, USA, South Africa) were tested for germination capability and speed in response to temperature. All source seeds were field grown in Sicily for use in germination assays. The following temperature regimes were imposed adopting a completely randomized design: A) seven constant temperatures from 5°C to 35°C (5°C increments), and B) two alternating temperatures of 15/10°C and 20/15°C (6h/18h thermoperiod), each consisting of four replicates of 25 seeds. Optimal germination temperatures were always 30 and 35°C, but Indian genotypes also demonstrated substantial germination percentages (33-43%) at constant temperatures as low as 15°C. Mean germination time (MGT) of genotypes India2, Kinman, Lewis, and Monument were 1.1 to 1.7 days at 30 and 35°C. At lower temperatures (15°C), the germination percentage and MGT improved significantly when the seeds were exposed at 20°C for 6 hours a day. In particular, Kinman, India2 and Monument gave good results, achieving 80%, 76% and 66% germination, respectively, with MGTs of 5 days. This alternating temperature regime is typical in soil during the Mediterranean spring. Results may be useful both for farmers to identify optimum timing for guar sowing, and for breeders to cross genotypes that tolerate low germination temperatures with high yielding genotypes.

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BACKGROUND The utilization of Trifolium subterraneum L. cover crops may represent an innovative and efficient option in low‐input and organic farming, especially in Mediterranean agroecosystems where low and irregular rainfall require frequent soil tillage and use of herbicides to reduce moisture losses and weed competitiveness. Since imbalances of soil macro‐ and micro‐nutrients due to cover cropping establishment could be responsible for numerous problems in specialized orchards, such as disturbances in the normal tree growth and quality of fruits, the objective of this study was to investigate, the cumulative effects of a 3‐years established T. subterraneum cover cropping, compared with a spontaneous flora and a conventional management (as a control), on the levels of mineral nutrients in the apricot leaves and fruits. RESULTS Our findings indicated that T. subterraneum cover cropping tended to stimulate higher leaf macro‐ and micro‐nutrients content than conventional management and flora spontaneous cover cropping. In addition, the presence of T. subterraneum cover cropping, especially with the incorporation of dead mulches into the soil, increased the content of potassium (K), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in apricot fruits. CONCLUSION Taking also into account the effects of T. subterraneum cover cropping on both the reduction of soil weed and enhancement of bacteria communities involved in the soil N‐cycle, we may suggest its application in Mediterranean orchards as an eco‐friendly alternative to synthetic herbicides for weed control and mineral N fertilizers, while enhancing the apricot tree nutritional status and fruit quality. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry