of global irrigated farmland already salt-degraded (FAO)
REGIONS MOST AT RISK
3
South Asia, Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa face compounding salinity threats
U.S. EPICENTER
Central Valley
California's primary food-producing region documents rising soil salt concentrations
RESEARCH LAG
Decades
salt-tolerance research has historically trailed drought-resistance work despite comparable food-security stakes
Share of Irrigated Farmland Affected by Salinity (1960–2024)
% irrigated land affected
FAO 20% benchmark
Regional Exposure Index (0–10 Composite Risk Score)
The 20% Benchmark
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates roughly 20% of all irrigated agricultural land worldwide is already affected by salt accumulation — a figure that grows year over year as irrigation water deposits minerals and coastal aquifer intrusion contaminates groundwater.
Two Mechanisms, One Crisis
Salinity builds through two main pathways: irrigation water that evaporates and leaves mineral salts behind over decades; and sea-level rise pushing saltwater into coastal aquifers that farmers depend on. Both are accelerating simultaneously.
Context
The 20% Benchmark
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates roughly 20% of all irrigated agricultural land worldwide is already affected by salt accumulation — a figure that grows year over year as irrigation water deposits minerals and coastal aquifer intrusion contaminates groundwater.
Two Mechanisms, One Crisis
Salinity builds through two main pathways: irrigation water that evaporates and leaves mineral salts behind over decades; and sea-level rise pushing saltwater into coastal aquifers that farmers depend on. Both are accelerating simultaneously.
The Research Lag
Salt-tolerant crop development has historically lagged behind drought-resistance research despite comparable stakes for global food security. The University of Lincoln findings mark a step toward closing that gap by identifying the mechanisms by which crops tolerate saline growing conditions.