Carob: A Mediterranean Resource for the Future

Abstract

For centuries, the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) has contributed to the economy of the Mediterranean basin, mainly as food for livestock. Nowadays, the value of the carob tree extends far beyond its traditional uses, encompassing a wide range of industries and applications that take advantage of its unique properties and nutritional benefits. Despite its high industrial demand and European indications, there has been a 65% reduction in the area cultivated throughout the Mediterranean area in the 21st century. Given the threats posed by climate change, including reduced water availability and nutrient-depleted soils, there is a growing need to focus on this crop, which is well placed to cope with unpredictable weather. In this review, we use a bibliographic search approach to emphasise the prioritisation of research needs for effective carob tree exploitation. We found enormous gaps in the scientific knowledge of this under-utilised crop species with fruit pulp and seeds of high industrial value. Insufficient understanding of the biology of the species, as well as inadequate agronomic practices, compromise the quantity and the quality of fruits available to the industry. In addition to industrial applications, carob can also be used in reforestation or restoration programmes, providing a valuable crop while promoting biodiversity conservation and soil restoration. The carbon sequestration potential of the trees should be taken into account as a promising alternative in fighting climate change. This bibliographic search has highlighted clusters with different knowledge gaps that require further research and investment. The carob tree has untapped potential for innovation, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Ceratonia siliqua; Mediterranean; afforestation; carob; climate change; environmental benefits; industrial applications; production and cultivation.

Figure 1

Outcome of hierarchical gaps in carob research knowledge that need to be addressed to ensure a reliable and resilient crop value. (A) The current value of the crop is dependent on basic and systematic knowledge of both the biology and the agronomy of the species. The different gaps for each part are listed. The nutrition and health industrial applications require further focused studies, particularly to gain better knowledge of possible uses and to conduct additional clinical trials. (B) Future prospects of carob use extend beyond industrial applications and include economic opportunities for farmers in arid and semi-arid regions. Under arid and semi-arid conditions, unsuitable for many other crops, carob trees can diversify farmers’ income streams, improve soil health, and mitigate the impacts of climate change through carbon sequestration and soil and biodiversity conservation measures.