Global Food Production At Increased Risk From Excess Salt In Soil, UN Warns

"Scientists say climate crisis and poor agricultural practices to blame with serious implications for crop yields"

"The extent of the world’s land affected by excess salt is set to increase rapidly with potentially devastating impacts on food production, research has found.

About 1.4bn hectares (3.4bn acres), amounting to 10% of global land, is affected by salinity, with a further 1bn hectares classed as “at risk”, a report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has found.

This is already having a serious impact on agriculture, as globally about a tenth of irrigated cropland and a similar proportion of rain-fed cropland is afflicted by excess salt. The potential losses to crop yields are as high as 70% in some cases."

Fiona Harvey reports for the Guardian December 10, 2024.