Solina: An Example of Ancient Wheat Suitable for the Protection of Agrobiodiversity and Agricultural Workers’ Health
Eva Masciarelli,
Marco Di Luigi,
Riccardo De Flaviis,
Claudio Beni,
Marco Di Santo,
Donato Silveri,
Fabiola De Amicis,
Orietta Menna,
Laura Casorri
Affiliations
Eva Masciarelli
Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements (DIT), National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work (INAIL), via R. Ferruzzi, 38/40, 00143 Rome, Italy
Marco Di Luigi
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene (DiMEILA), National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), via di Fontana Candida, 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
Riccardo De Flaviis
Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, via R. Balzarini, 1, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Claudio Beni
Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing (CREA), via della Pascolare, 16, Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy
Marco Di Santo
Ufficio Agronomico e Indennizzi Fauna Selvatica, Parco Nazionale Della Maiella, via Badia, 28, Sulmona, 67039 L’Aquila, Italy
Donato Silveri
“Casasole” Farm Via Nazionale, 79, Castelvecchio Subequo, 67024 L’Aquila, Italy
Fabiola De Amicis
“Il Maniero in Vallelonga” Experimental Farm, via Strada 38, 28, Trasacco, 67059 L’Aquila, Italy
Orietta Menna
“Terra Nobile” Farm & Farmers Market, via San Giacomo, 13, 66041 Chieti, Italy
Laura Casorri
Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements (DIT), National Institute for Insurance Against Accidents at Work (INAIL), via R. Ferruzzi, 38/40, 00143 Rome, Italy
Solina is an ancient common wheat that has been cultivated in Abruzzo since the 16th century. It is a variety of wheat typical of mountain and marginal areas with peculiar organoleptic and nutritional characteristics. In this review, a collection of experimental and empirical data analyses on its agronomic, environmental, historical, gastronomic, and cultural characteristics was carried out to propose its possible use in sustainable agriculture. The observed data suggest that Solina represents an ancient wheat variety that could be used as an alternative to modern wheat, following the European Directive 128/2009 on the sustainable use of pesticides. The natural resistance of this ancient wheat to the typical climatic conditions of the territory in which it grows allows for the non-use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Therefore, Solina has all the characteristics to respond to consumer demands, paying greater attention to environmental protection, preserving biodiversity, and safeguarding the health of farm workers.
