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UPSIGN Webinar on Saline Agriculture

SALINE AGRICULTURE - SOLUTION TO GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY

Saline agriculture is a potential solution to food security. According to the FAO (Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), the last 25 years, 2000 hectares/day of land is degraded by salt. By understanding salinity and how it affects the land, it has become increasingly important to look at how saline agriculture can play a role in food security.

 

In this seminar, specialists in different areas such as water irrigation, soil management, crops and climate change discuss how saline agriculture plays a role in tackling this challenge.

screen shot saline plants.jpeg

Key Takeaway:

  1. Salinity does not just affect water, soil, or land. It has an impact on the nutrient content of crops & the economy.

  2. Understanding soil health is significant to saline agriculture.

  3. Finding and using alternative water sources such as wastewater, treated drainage water, or seawater for irrigation is crucial. Freshwater is scarce, and reliance needs to be minimized.

  4. Diversity is key:

    • Crops such as millet and quinoa are saline tolerant. These need to be incorporated into the diet more often, easing pressure from standard staples such as rice & wheat.

    • A few advantages of these crops are being resilient to climate change, can grow in poor soil/land, and use less water.

  5. Working towards the UNSDG’s such as zero hunger (SDG 2), economic development (SDG 8), equality (SDG 5), community building (SDG 17) just to name a few.

  6. Monitor salinity at both the national and international levels. FAO world soil map is a one of a kind database available (http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-maps-and-databases/faounesco-soil-map-of-the-world/en/)

Speakers:

  1. Chair - Dr Khalid Mahmood: UPSIGN/Rothamsted Research

  2. Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan: Pakistan Academy of Sciences

  3. Dr S Khurshid Hasanain, Adviser COMSTECH

  4. Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Director General International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, the United Arab Emirates.

  5. Prof Dr Ragab Ragab, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Hydrologist and Water Resources Management Specialist, Vice President, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).

  6. Dr Kate Negacz, Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, Netherlands

  7. Dr Abdelaziz Hirich, Biosaline Agriculture, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco.

  8. Prof Redouane Choukr-Allah, Environmental-Horticulture, IAV Hassan II University

  9. Prof Steve McGrath Rothamsted Research, UK

  10. Prof Dr Arifa Tahir, Lahore College for Women University

  11. Dr Fatou Bojang, National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Head Cereals Program, Gambia

  12. Dr Munawar Kazmi, Country Manager for ACIAR in Pakistan

Click here to access the video

Click here to access other UPSIGN webinars

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