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The pine nut, the edible kernel of the Mediterranean stone pine, Pinus pinea, is one of the world's most
expensive nuts. Although well known and planted since antiquity, pine nuts are still collected mainly
from natural forests in the Mediterranean countries, and only recently has the crop taken the first steps
to domestication as an attractive alternative on rainfed farmland in Mediterranean climate areas, with
plantations yielding more pine nuts than the natural forests and contributing to rural development and
employment of local communities. The species performs well on poor soils and needs little husbandry,
it is affected by few pests or diseases and withstands adverse climatic conditions such as drought and
extreme or late frosts. It is light-demanding and hence has potential as a crop in agro forestry systems in
Mediterranean climate zones around the world.
This publication contains 14 of the contributions presented at the AGROPINE 2011 Meeting, held
from 17 to 19 November 2011 in Valladolid (Spain). The Meeting aimed at bringing together the main
research groups and potential users in order to gather the current knowledge on Mediterranean stone
pine as a nut crop and to analyse its potential and current challenges. The presentations and debates
were structured into two scientific sessions dealing with management of stone pine for cone production
and on genetic improvement, selection and breeding of this species, and was closed by a round
table discussion on the challenges and opportunities of the pine nut industry and markets. Thirty nine
scientists, and forest and industry managers, coming from Lebanon, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey
participated in the meeting, which will hopefully be the first of a series of meetings and activities of the
newly restored FAO-CIHEAM Sub-network on Mediterranean Stone Pine.
