According to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s newly released Global Map of Salt-Affected Soils, there are more than 833 million hectares of salt-affected soils throughout the world (8.7 percent of the earth’s total).
The majority of them exist in naturally arid or semi-arid areas in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The map also reveals that 20 to 50 percent of irrigated soils across all continents are overly salty, implying that over 1.5 billion people have substantial hurdles in producing food due to soil deterioration.
What is soil salinization?
Salts are naturally found in soils and water, and they move easily through them. Naturally saline soils may sustain diverse ecosystems, but natural events such as droughts and human actions, particularly incorrect irrigation, may increase the amount of salts in soils, a process known as salinization. Soil salinization degrades our soils and lowers their capacity to aid in the growth of our food.
According to the FAO’s report, agricultural output must expand by 60% worldwide and 100% in certain emerging countries to prevent food shortages and fulfill rising demand for a growing global population, which is expected to reach over ten billion by 2050.
Tackling the issue
Biotechnology has come up with a solution: “a protective coating—consisting of silk, sugar, and bacteria-that could help to cultivate seed growth in highly saline soil, potentially making these lands accessible to farming again,” says Fast Company.
GMOs and gene editing can help prevent the erosion that drives salinization it in the first place by promoting no-till agriculture, which helps keep soil in place and helps reduce soil erosion and water runoff—as well as making crops resistant to disease and pests, thereby reducing the need for harmful pesticides,explains GMO Answers.
And gene editing is boosting the health of the soil itself: “Researchers atthe Salk Institute of Biological Studios are using gene editing to devolop plantswith bigger, deeper roots, which will stay in the ground after the crop isharvested,” explains lnnovature. “Over time, these roots will break down slowly.”
World Soil Day established to raise awareness
World Soil Day (WSD) is celebrated on December 5th each year to draw attention to the significance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
The Worldwide Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) proposed an international day to commemorate soil in 2002. As part of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the establishment of WSD as a global awareness raising platform under the leadership of Thailand.In June 2013, the FAO Conference overwhelmingly approved World Soil Day and urged that it be officially adopted at the 68th UN General Assembly. The United Nations General Assembly reacted in December 2013 by declaring 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.
This year’s World Soil Day (#WorldSoilDay) and its campaign “Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity” are aimed at raising awareness about the significance of sustaining a healthy ecosystems and human well-being by tackling growing challenges in soil management, combating soil salinization and raising awareness of soil health.
