Abstract ID: 3.11104 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

Agrobiodiversity in agriculture encompasses wild relatives, landraces, and modern cultivars important for food and agriculture. Landraces are traditional crop varieties adapted to local conditions. They are valuable for their agronomic and phytochemical-nutritional properties and their ability to withstand climate change. In Italy, landraces are mainly found in mountain regions, where local communities have preserved them over time. These varieties are well-suited for mountain cultivation and offer potential for new agri-food chains in these areas. “Carciofo di Malegno” is a landrace of Cynara cardunculus subsp. scolymus L. Hayek, cultivated in Camonica Valley, northern Italy. It is the only known alpine artichoke. Its cultivation in Malegno is documented in a 1904 text from the province of Brescia, which highlights its unique flavor. Due to its spiky shape, “Carciofo di Malegno” stands out from other artichokes and resembles those in the “Spinosi” group. The capitula of the “Carciofo di Malegno” contained chlorogenic acid (497.2 ± 116.0 mg/100 g DW) and cynarine (7.4 ± 1.2 mg/100 g DW) levels similar to those found in commercial cultivars. Significant luteolin (9.4 ± 1.5 mg/100 g DW) was found in the stems and edible parts. The receptacle and inner fleshy bracts had higher levels of these caffeoylquinic derivatives compared to non-edible parts. A MaxEnt distribution model predicts that by the 2040s-2060s, “Carciofo di Malegno” could spread to the Lombardy pre-Alps and Alps. Climate change may promote its expansion, contributing to its preservation and enhancement, while providing sustainable income opportunities through new food or medicinal uses. This initiative led to collaboration between the University of Milan – Unimont, the Tevini distillery in Edolo, and the municipality of Malegno. Tevini created a hydro-alcoholic extract from artichoke leaves, once considered waste, to develop three spirit prototypes: a liqueur, a bitter, and a gin. Through a public sensory analysis at the Unimont center, the liqueur was selected as the preferred prototype. It was launched and mainly sold at fairs and Christmas markets across Lombardy, generating economic benefits and promoting sustainable development in the Camonica Valley.