Global Soil Salinity Crisis Threatens Food Security, FAO Report Warns

 

The world’s agricultural landscape is facing a growing threat from soil salinity, with far-reaching implications for global food production, according to a new report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The study highlights that approximately 1.4 billion hectares of land—10% of the planet's landmass—are already affected by excessive salt, with an additional 1 billion hectares at significant risk.

Excessive soil salinity is already impacting about 10% of irrigated and rain-fed croplands worldwide, leading to crop yield losses of up to 70% in some areas. Countries with significant agricultural output, including China, the United States, Russia, and Australia, are among the worst affected. Central Asian nations such as Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Iran and Sudan, are also grappling with severe soil degradation.

These 10 nations account for 70% of global salt-affected soils, a critical issue that could worsen as climate change accelerates. The report warns that by the end of the century, salt-affected soils could expand to encompass between one-quarter and one-third of the world’s land area if current trends persist.

The FAO identifies climate change and unsustainable agricultural practices as key drivers of this crisis. Rising temperatures, water scarcity, poor drainage, and overuse of aquifers for irrigation contribute to increasing salinity levels. The report also highlights the use of low-quality or saline irrigation water, excessive chemical fertilizers, and the removal of deep-rooted vegetation as significant factors exacerbating the issue.

Excessive salt in soil reduces its fertility by absorbing water and altering its physical structure, making it more prone to erosion. Rising sea levels further aggravate the problem by introducing saltwater into coastal agricultural areas.

To address the crisis, the FAO recommends a combination of traditional and innovative practices, including:

• Traditional Techniques: Mulching, interlayering soils with loose material, and improved crop rotations.
• Innovations: Developing salt-resistant crops, and using bacteria, fungi, and plants to sequester or remove salt from the soil.
• Regenerative Farming: Focusing on natural soil fertility to enhance resilience and productivity.

Experts also emphasize the need for government support to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices. Anand Ethirajalu, director of Cauvery Calling, urged policymakers to provide financial incentives for soil restoration, warning that declining fertility affects everyone reliant on agriculture.

The findings were unveiled at the International Soil and Water Forum in Bangkok and coincided with discussions in Saudi Arabia under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Experts caution that rising global temperatures, coupled with unsustainable agricultural pressure, are creating an unprecedented threat to food security.

Praveena Sridhar, chief technical officer of the Save Soil movement, warned:

“Global famine is no longer a distant threat. The soil crisis may be invisible to many, but its impact will reach every corner of the world if decisive action is not taken.”

As policymakers deliberate, the FAO’s report underscores the urgent need for global cooperation to protect soil health and safeguard the future of food production.