The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Anglo American Crop Nutrients have begun a global initiative to reclaim salt-affected soils as part of efforts to fight drought and land degradation. This project was announced in line with the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought and aims to tackle a major threat to global food security.
Around 10% of the world’s irrigated and rain-fed farmlands are affected by salinization a process where excessive salts build up in the soil, preventing plants from absorbing water and essential nutrients. This leads to falling crop yields and unproductive farmland. Causes include the use of salty irrigation water, climate change-driven dry conditions, rising sea levels affecting coastal lands, and misuse of fertilizers. If left unchecked, salinization could damage half of the planet’s farmland by 2050.
To solve this, the new project is exploring the use of polyhalite—a naturally formed mineral rich in potassium, sulphur, magnesium, and calcium. Unlike conventional fertilizers, polyhalite has low chloride content, so it does not worsen soil salinity. Its minerals help push harmful sodium ions out of the soil, improving its structure, water flow, and fertility, especially in sodic soils which become hard and dry due to excess sodium.
In addition to this mineral solution, the IAEA is boosting scientific research by promoting the use of isotopic techniques. These methods, such as nitrogen-15 tracing, allow scientists to determine how efficiently plants absorb fertilizers, helping reduce wastage and prevent further soil damage. This approach has already shown success in Mali, where smallholder farmers saw improved crop resilience and soil carbon storage.
The IAEA’s involvement in combating soil salinity dates back decades. In Pakistan, its collaboration with national research bodies helped develop salt-tolerant crops and improved water management practices, transforming barren lands into fertile farms. Similar progress has been made in Middle Eastern countries where crops like millet, barley, safflower, okra, and quinoa are now thriving in saline soils.
This initiative is part of a broader global push to restore degraded land and secure food production for future generations. With scientific innovation, public-private partnerships, and international cooperation, the program is set to offer sustainable solutions to the dual threats of land degradation and food insecurity.