SINE Maroua
University Mohammed V, Morocco
Abstract Title: Agronomic potential, food value, and food safety challenges of Salicornia spp. For the deployment of bio saline agriculture in Morocco: a critical review
Biography:
Maroua Sine is a PhD candidate in the Laboratory of Energy, Materials and Sustainable Development (EMDD), Department of Chemistry, CEDOC Sciences and Technologies, Mohammed V University in Rabat. With a background in food engineering, her research focuses on food science, natural product valorization, and sustainable processing strategies. She is particularly interested in the development of functional foods, quality control systems, and the use of plant-based resources, including halophytes, for innovative and environmentally responsible applications. Her work integrates food safety, physicochemical analysis, and circular bioeconomy principles to promote sustainable agro-food systems adapted to saline and resource constrained environments.
Research Interest:
Soil salinization and water scarcity represent major threats to agricultural sustainability in Morocco, where over 5% of arable land is affected by varying degrees of salinity, particularly in coastal zones and oases. In this context, biosaline agriculture, based on halophytic crops capable of thriving under high salinity, emerges as a strategic alternative for the valorization of marginalized lands and the strengthening of food security. This critical review examines the potential of glasswort (Salicornia spp.) as a multi-purpose euhalophyte for the deployment of biosaline agriculture in Morocco. The article synthesizes recent international literature across four main dimensions: (i) the context and challenges of soil and water salinization in Morocco; (ii) the physiological, biochemical, and agronomic bases of Salicornia cultivation under saline conditions; (iii) the biochemical and nutritional valorization of Salicornia biomass, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties; and (iv) a critical analysis of current knowledge gaps and research perspectives. Findings reveal that Salicornia spp. exhibit exceptional salt tolerance (up to 1000 mM NaCl), high agronomic versatility (open field, hydroponics, aquaponics), and a rich nutritional profile comprising minerals, proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, and diverse bioactive compounds. Furthermore, their capacity for phytodesalination and ecosystem restoration positions them as key players in sustainable land management. However, significant gaps persist regarding the standardization of nutritional composition, the benefit–risk balance (notably high sodium and oxalate content), the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds, and the near-complete absence of human clinical trials. This review highlights the urgent need for integrated, evidence-based approaches—combining agronomy, nutrition science, food safety assessment, and artificial intelligence tools—to consolidate Salicornia as an agro-ecological, economically viable, and nutritionally validated solution for Moroccan saline ecosystems.