A groundbreaking study published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the MDPI journal Agriculture has revealed alarming levels of agricultural land degradation worldwide. This problem is most urgent in the Arab region. Over 46 million hectares of agricultural land face severe degradation. This degradation is driven primarily by human activity. This accounts for nearly two-thirds of the 70 million hectares of degraded land across the region. The vast scale of the crisis is underscored by this fact.
Globally, FAO estimates that 1.66 billion hectares are degraded due to human activities. These include deforestation, poor farming practices, and unsustainable land use. Over 60 percent of this degraded area affects cropland and pasture. These are the critical sources of the world’s food. Ninety-five percent of all food produced relies on land. Therefore, this degradation threatens the very foundations of global food security.
AN URGENT CALL FOR INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
The FAO study emphasizes that preventing, reducing, and reversing land degradation requires integrated solutions. These solutions should be anchored in sustainable soil, land, and water management. It calls on governments, regional organizations, and the private sector to commit to transforming agrifood systems. The goal is to achieve land degradation neutrality and improve agricultural productivity. Additionally, efforts should be made to preserve biodiversity. Also, it is crucial to adapt to climate change impacts.
The Arab region shows particularly high rates of land degradation. This is one of the most concerning findings. Croplands in this region are especially vulnerable. Researchers have attributed this to multiple factors. These factors include the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides. Rising soil salinity is another factor, due to unsustainable irrigation practices. There are also more frequent sand and dust storms. Increasing temperatures and chronic water scarcity, driven by climate change, contribute as well.
These pressures are converging in ways that threaten to push fragile agrifood systems past a point of recovery. Yet, despite these warnings, less than four percent of land in the Arab region has been earmarked for restoration. This falls significantly short of the international targets established to reverse degradation and secure food supplies for growing populations.
RESTORING LAND TO CLOSE THE YIELD GAP
The consequences of inaction are significant. According to the FAO, restoring just 26 million hectares of degraded cropland across the Arab region could reduce the yield gap by as much as 50 percent. This applies to oil crops like sunflower and canola. For cereals, roots, and tuber crops, restoration could allow farmers to achieve their full potential yields. This could be a critical step to improving food availability, lowering import dependence, and strengthening livelihoods.
In practice, this means deploying proven measures such as better irrigation systems that prevent salinization. Crop rotation is also important to restore soil health. Additionally, organic amendments can help rebuild fertility. The FAO also recommends that countries invest in monitoring systems. These systems track land conditions and quickly identify areas at high risk of degradation.
A DEDICATED REGIONAL INITIATIVE
The report underscores that technical solutions alone will not be enough. What is needed is a dedicated regional initiative to foster collaboration among Arab countries. This initiative should adapt restoration strategies to local conditions. Such an initiative would help governments share expertise, pool financial resources, and accelerate large-scale restoration projects. These projects must be tailored to each country’s unique ecosystems.
Building on the momentum created by the Riyadh Action Agenda, launched at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in December 2024, the FAO envisions a collaborative framework. This framework would bring together policymakers, farmers, researchers, and international agencies. The goal is to restore degraded land, enhance drought and water resilience, and build sustainable agrifood systems. These systems must be capable of withstanding the mounting pressures of climate change.
THE STAKES FOR FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE ACTION
In many Arab countries, agricultural land is already scarce. Rapid population growth is also intensifying demand. Without decisive action, the gap between food supply and demand will widen. This will lead to higher prices, increased poverty, and greater political and social instability.
Furthermore, degraded land emits greenhouse gases and loses its ability to store carbon. This creates a feedback loop in which land degradation accelerates climate change, which then fuels more degradation. Reversing this cycle requires comprehensive strategies that link restoration with climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The FAO study notes that restoring degraded croplands and pastures will not only improve yields but also protect biodiversity. It will reduce dust storms and maintain cultural landscapes that have sustained communities for centuries.
FAO’S ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THE ARAB REGION
The FAO has already taken several important steps to address land degradation across the Arab world. At COP16, held in the Arab region for the first time, the organization highlighted the urgent need to make land restoration the centerpiece of agrifood transformation strategies. These efforts contributed to the adoption of a landmark UNCCD decision – Decision 19/COP.16. The decision focuses on avoiding, reducing, and reversing degradation of agricultural lands.
Beyond international conferences, the FAO also leads the NENA Regional Investment Framework for Ecosystem Restoration and Development Solutions. This platform, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNCCD, and the League of Arab States, promotes “champion countries” that can pilot large-scale restoration projects. The idea is to demonstrate successful approaches that can be replicated across borders.
DIGITAL INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND USE
To support sustainable planning, the FAO launched the Suitability Crop Platform. This innovative digital tool provides farmers, policymakers, and researchers with vital soil and crop data. It helps users identify which crops are best suited to local conditions. It also shows where restoration efforts can be most effective and how to manage soil and water sustainably.
These efforts are part of a broader vision. The aim is to integrate land restoration into national policies, improve resilience to drought, and strengthen food systems against future shocks.
TOWARD A RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL FUTURE
Reversing land degradation is no small task, but the stakes have never been higher. In the Arab region, arid climates and water scarcity already pose formidable challenges. Continued degradation could severely compromise food security and undermine economic development.
The FAO study makes it clear that urgent, coordinated action is needed. Governments must prioritize investment in sustainable soil management, scale up restoration programs, and support farmers with training and incentives. At the same time, international agencies and donors should align funding and technical assistance to ensure restoration goals are met.
With the right policies and investments, it is possible to halt degradation. Regional cooperation will allow us to restore millions of hectares of productive land. This will secure the future of agriculture in the Arab region. It will also deliver benefits for climate action. Additionally, it will enhance biodiversity and economic resilience.
A CALL TO ACTION
The evidence is unequivocal: land degradation is among the most pressing threats facing the Arab region today. It is not merely an environmental problem but a direct challenge to food security, public health, and regional stability. Governments, international organizations, and communities must work together to restore degraded lands before the damage becomes irreversible.
By embracing sustainable practices, the Arab region can protect its agricultural heritage. Committing to land degradation neutrality helps build a resilient future for generations to come.