Enhancing the cultural value of the cultivated landscape of the Valley of the Temples

In response to the challenges posed by a continuously growing global population, the Anthropocene food system has predominantly relied on intensive agricultural practices. Over time, this model has proven unsustainable, currently accounting for approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and representing the primary driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss (UNEP Report, 2024). Consequently, there is an urgent need to reorient food systems towards more sustainable models of resource utilization and consumption. The study of traditional agricultural systems offers valuable insights for the pursuit of a renewed equilibrium between human activity and environmental preservation. This article examines a case study of a "pre-Anthropocene" landscape that has been preserved from agricultural and urban exploitation due to the presence of an archaeological constraint: the Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Italy, encompassing an area exceeding 1,300 hectares. Within this context, a public-private partnership has implemented a series of pilot initiatives aimed at environmental restoration, the promotion of ecological agricultural practices and livestock rearing, the application of agroecological principles, and the conservation of ancient rural architecture. In collaboration with the University of Palermo, a gene bank has been established for the conservation of plant biodiversity, alongside the reintroduction of breeding programs for local endangered animal species. The restoration of the traditional agricultural landscape has contributed to the enhancement of local biodiversity, demonstrating the potential of sustainable biodynamic practices to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to foster increased ecosystem resilience.