The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today launched theGlobal Map
of Salt-Affected Soils
[www.fao.org], a key tool for
haltingsalinization
[www.fao.org]
boosting productivity.

The map estimates that there are more than 833 million hectares of
salt-affected soils around the globe (8.7% of the planet). Most of them
can be found in naturally arid or semi-arid environments in Africa, Asia
and Latin America. However, the map also shows that 20 to 50 percent of
irrigated soils in all continents are too salty, meaning over 1.5
billion people worldwide face significant challenges in growing food due
to soil degradation.

The map, a joint project involving 118 countries and hundreds of
data-crunchers, allows experts to identify where sustainable soil
management practices should be adopted to prevent salinization and
sodification and to manage salt-affected soils sustainably. The map can
inform policy makers when dealing with climate change adaptation and
irrigation projects.

The launch took place on the opening day of theGlobal Symposium on
Salt-Affected Soils
[www.fao.org],
a three-day virtual conference. More than 5,000 experts are registered
for the event, which is co-organized by FAO and runs until October 22.

�??We must look for innovative ways to transform our agri-food systems to
be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable,�?�
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said during the symposium�??s opening
ceremony. Uzbekistan�??s minister of agriculture, Jamshid Khodjaev, whose
government is among the co-organizers, also delivered opening remarks.

World map of salt-affected soils launched at virtual conference
(fao.org)
[www.fao.org]