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This study aimed to show how the importance of edible wild plants regards not only a question of uses linked to folk traditions but also their value in human nutrition. Data on the use of 50 species were collected through informed consent semi-structured interviews with local informants. They were eaten raw in salads (43%), boiled (35%), as ravioli filling (10%), fried without or with eggs (8%) and in vegetable soup (4%). Furthermore, the nutraceutical analysis centred on four of the commonly used wild edible plants demonstrates how these species contain many of the so-called minor nutrients, such as antioxidising vitamins and polyphenols, which were highest inSanguisorba minorL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We develop a Decision Supporting System for Food Self-Sufficiency. • We develop tools to calculate the land required for the food needs of a community and the land suitability of the crops. • We assess the Italian Food Self-Sufficiency achievable. • We outline the use of the developed method for enhancing participatory processes. • The developed method is useful for elaborating Food Sovereignty Plans. This paper develops a Decision Support System (DSS), for achieving Food Sovereignty Plans at different territorial levels. The DSS calculates the land requirement for producing the food needs of a local community, the land suitability for the involved crops, and the percentage of the food self-sufficiency achievable. The paper reports two case studies at different scales (Italy and Umbria region) for highlighting the strengths and the weaknesses of the DSS. Finally, the paper outlines the use of the developed DSS for enhancing participatory processes to achieve a National Food Sovereignty Plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]