Page 4 - Vol.37-No.8

WORLD MAP OF SALT-AFFECTED SOILS LAUNCHED
EDITORIAL
Under the patronage of
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched form the basis of FAO’s Four Betters - better production,
the Global Map of Salt-Affected Soils, a key tool for halt- better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life,
ing salinization and boosting productivity. leaving no one behind.
The map estimates that there are more than 833 million Soils can become salt-affected very quickly for a va-
hectares of salt-affected soils around the globe (8.7% riety of reasons: due to human mismanagement, exces-
of the planet). Most of them can be found in naturally sive or inappropriate use of fertilisers, deforestation, Co-located with
arid or semi-arid environments in Africa, Asia and Lat- sea level rises, a shallow water table which affects the
in America. However, the map also shows that 20 to 50 rootzone, or seawater intrusion into groundwater that is ONLINE AND
percent of irrigated soils in all continents are too salty, then used for irrigation. Climate change is also raising IN-PERSON
meaning over 1.5 billion people worldwide face signif- the stakes, with models suggesting that global drylands
icant challenges in growing food due to soil degrada- could expand by as much as 23 percent – mostly in de-
tion. veloping countries - by the end of the century. 8 - 9 December 2021
The map, a joint project involving 118 countries and Human-induced salt-affected soils (a term that de- Online and Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE
hundreds of data-crunchers, allows experts to identify scribes saline, sodic, and saline-sodic soils) are less
where sustainable soil management practices should fertile and less productive and therefore pose a threat
be adopted to prevent salinization and sodification and to the global fight against hunger and poverty. They
to manage salt-affected soils sustainably. The map can also reduce water quality and soil biodiversity while in- ENABLING FOOD SECURITY IN THE
inform policy makers when dealing with climate change creasing soil erosion.
adaptation and irrigation projects. The purpose of the symposium is to raise awareness MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
The launch took place on the opening day of the Glob- and combat the problem through a variety of tools.
al Symposium on Salt-Affected Soils, a three-day virtual Good practices for managing and reclaiming salt-affect-
conference. More than 5,000 experts are registered for ed soils are being presented, while a photo contest of-
the event, which is co-organized by FAO and runs until fers participants the opportunity to share their testimo- REGISTER NOW
October 22. nies on the effects of soil salinity and sodification.
“We must look for innovative ways to transform our The symposium is jointly organized by FAO and its
agri-food systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the Intergovernmental
more resilient and more sustainable,” FAO Director-Gen- Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS), together with the gov-
eral QU Dongyu said during the symposium’s opening ernment of Uzbekistan, the Science Policy Interface
ceremony. Uzbekistan’s minister of agriculture, Jamshid of the United Nations Convention to Combat Deserti-
Khodjaev, whose government is among the co-organiz- fication (SPI-UNCCD), the International Union of Soil
ers, also delivered opening remarks. Sciences (IUSS), the International Center for Biosaline
The mother of all creatures Agriculture (ICBA), the International Network of Salt-Af-
fected Soils (INSAS), and the Global Framework on Wa-
If water is the source of life, then soil is the mother of ter Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG).
all creatures. Healthy soils are a pre-requisite to achieve The event takes place ahead of World Soil Day on De-
the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and HORTICULTURE & LIVESTOCK HEALTH
INDOOR FARMS & NUTRITION AGTECH

Advertise
Advertise
in the
in the
In The Next Issue & promote your Gold Sponsor Aquaculture Technology Registration
Next issue
Next issue
& promote your
products !
Main Features products ! Partner Partner Partner
Crop Cultivation Food Processing
• Cultivators and tillage equipment / Storage and warehousing Refrigeration and cold storage
• Tractors and combine harvesters Show Review:
Irrigation • VIV MEA 2021, Abu Dhabi
• Power roll, sprinkler and drip irrigation • AgraME 2021, Dubai
Exhibitors

CONTACT
+971525072847 | info@agramiddleeast.com | www.agramiddleeast.com
Circle 3 on enquiry card