Wheat agroecological cultivation in the Euro-Mediterranean region: challenges and potentialities

Agroecological wheat cultivation is a management approach that can help balance production and environmental conservation. This study evaluates the potentialities and limitations of wheat agroecological cultivation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, where wheat remains a key crop. We combined a systematic review of scientific literature with spatial data on wheat cultivation. A total of 86 evidence-based studies published between 2003 and 2025 were reviewed. The studies were unevenly distributed, with most studies concentrated in southeast France, central and southern Italy, and northeast Spain, while central Spain, Portugal, and mainland Greece remain poorly studied despite extensive wheat cultivation. The analyzed literature shows that agroecological wheat systems can improve soil structure and carbon sequestration, reduce erosion, and increase biodiversity. Grain quality and yield gaps relative to conventional systems are generally smaller under low-input conditions, particularly when adapted varieties and legume-based crop rotations are applied. Major limitations include the limited availability of varieties bred for agroecological conditions, challenges in weed, pest, and disease management, protein yield constraints, and economic viability beyond niche markets. Agroecological wheat cultivation represents a promising pathway to enhance the resilience and sustainability of wheat agroecosystems, but further research and improved management guidelines are required to fully exploit its potential.