Salinity is one of the fastest-growing challenges for global food production. According to FAO (2024), 1,381 million hectares of land – 10.7% of the world’s land area – are salt-affected. At the same time, around 2 billion people live in water-stressed areas (UN-Water, 2021). Together, soil and water salinity threaten the livelihoods of millions of farmers and put global food security under increasing pressure.

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What is salinity?

Salinity refers to the presence of soluble salts in soils or water. In agriculture, it becomes a problem when salt levels rise to the point where crops can no longer take up sufficient water or nutrients. This results in stunted growth, reduced yields, and eventually land degradation. Salinity can occur naturally, for example through seawater intrusion in coastal and delta areas, but is often worsened by human activities such as irrigation with saline water, poor drainage, or the overuse of groundwater. Climate change further accelerates these processes.

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Traditional approaches often treat salinity as a constraint that needs to be fought or avoided. However, salinity is here to stay – and in many regions, it is expanding. That is why a growing number of farmers, researchers, and policymakers are looking for ways to farm with salinity, rather than against it.

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Saline agriculture offers a pathway forward. By identifying and cultivating salt-tolerant crops, introducing water-efficient systems such as open-field hydroponics, and applying climate-smart soil and water management practices, farmers can continue to produce food on salt-affected land. These solutions not only help secure local livelihoods but also contribute to more resilient food systems worldwide.

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At The Salt Doctors, we believe that saline agriculture should be seen not only as a necessity but also as an opportunity. With practical, scalable, and science-based solutions, saline farming can turn degraded lands into productive fields, supporting both farmers and food security in a changing climate.