1.4 Billion Hectares of Land Impacted by Salinity Threatening Food Security, Finds FAO Report

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has published a report on salt-affected soils, marking the first major global assessment in five decades. The findings are alarming, revealing that 1.4 billion hectares of land, over 10% of the Earth's total surface, are already impacted by salinity. Additionally, one billion hectares face imminent risk due to climate change and poor land management practices.

The report, titled The Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils, was launched at the International Soil and Water Forum 2024 in Bangkok. Organized by FAO and Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the forum highlighted the critical need for action to counter soil degradation and water scarcity. Salt-affected soils, characterized by excessive salinity, significantly reduce agricultural productivity, with crop yields for staples like rice and beans plummeting by as much as 70%. This poses a severe challenge to global food security, especially as the demand for food surges with population growth.

FAO estimates that 10% of irrigated and rainfed cropland worldwide is already affected by salinity. However, due to limited data, this figure could be even higher. Alarmingly, climate models suggest that the share of affected lands could rise to as much as 32% under current warming trends, with the brunt of this impact expected in developing nations. Currently, ten countries, including Afghanistan, Australia, and China, account for 70% of the world's salt-affected soils, highlighting the global scale of the crisis.

The causes of salinisation are both natural and human-induced. Climate change intensifies aridity and reduces freshwater availability, while rising sea levels threaten coastal areas with salinity intrusion. Furthermore, inadequate agricultural practices, such as poor-quality irrigation, deforestation, excessive groundwater extraction, and overuse of fertilizers, exacerbate the issue.

Freshwater scarcity, which has grown sixfold over the past century due to overexploitation of aquifers, is further compounding the problem. Without urgent intervention, the spread of salt-affected soils will jeopardize environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity, and global food security, posing a formidable challenge for future generations.

The report outlines sustainable strategies for managing salt-affected soils. Mitigation includes mulching, drainage systems, and improved crop rotations, while adaptation involves breeding salt-tolerant plants like halophytes and bioremediation using organisms to remove harmful substances.

It emphasizes the need for legal frameworks to protect saline ecosystems and manage agricultural soils under irrigation, aiming to preserve soil health, productivity, and food security for future generations.