Neglected genetic resources: gathered food plants in the urban markets of North-West Morocco

Wild edible plants are species that naturally grow and reproduce in their native habitats without cultivation. Humans have harvested these plants since ancient times, and they have long been integral to traditional diets and food systems. Beyond their food and economic value, these plants also possess significant socio-cultural value, particularly in preserving traditional knowledge. This study was conducted in the Tingitan Peninsula region of Northern Morocco to compile and evaluate the existing ethnobotanical knowledge on wild edible plants sold by women vendors in local markets and traditionally used for human consumption. Out of the 728 women vendors interviewed in this study, 48% were aged between 18 and 49 years, while 28% were between 50 and 59 years old. Regarding socio-economic status, 76% of the women were married, 11% were widowed, 9% were unmarried, and 4% were divorced. In terms of education, 80% of the vendors had not attended school for various reasons, including societal attitudes, household and grazing responsibilities, early marriage, and poverty. The remaining 20% had a primary level of education. A total of 728 interviews were conducted across 13 open-air markets, utilizing semi-structured questionnaires for data collection. Two types of data were collected: socio-economic information from the informants and details about their traditional knowledge and consumption of wild edible plants. Our findings identified 52 consumed species across 23 botanical families, with Asteraceae and Lamiaceae being the most prominent. Most of these plants (68%) are considered weeds and are harvested from cultivated fields, while the remaining 32% are collected from natural habitats. The study also highlighted the diverse consumption methods, categorizing the species into four forms: fruit (17%), vegetable (59%), salad (12%), and condiments (12%). Given the commercial and cultural significance of these species, preserving both their genetic resources and the associated traditional knowledge is crucial.