FAO warns of worsening land degradation in the Arab region

A new study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has highlighted the severe degradation of agricultural land in the Arab region, calling for urgent regional efforts to restore land and reform agrifood systems. According to the FAO, more than 46 million hectares—two-thirds of all degraded land in the region—are severely impacted by human activity, posing a critical threat to food security.

The report, published in the journal Agriculture (MDPI), finds that degradation is largely driven by unsustainable land use practices, including overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, soil salinization from irrigation, intensifying dust storms, increasing temperatures, and water scarcity—all exacerbated by climate change.

Globally, the FAO estimates 1.66 billion hectares of land have been degraded due to human action, with over 60 percent of this being agricultural land. As approximately 95 percent of food production depends on land, the deterioration directly undermines food availability and rural livelihoods.

The Arab region is among the hardest hit, yet only 4 percent of its land area is currently targeted for restoration. FAO research suggests that rehabilitating just 26 million hectares of degraded cropland could close yield gaps for oil crops by up to 50 percent and significantly raise cereal and tuber productivity.

The FAO urges regional cooperation to reverse this trend, recommending sustainable soil, water, and land management and a transformation of agrifood systems. A new regional initiative, adapted to local contexts, is proposed to encourage country-level collaboration focused on land restoration, drought resilience, and poverty reduction.

The initiative would align with global frameworks and builds on the Riyadh Action Agenda adopted during the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 conference, hosted in the Arab region in December 2024. The agenda prioritizes land restoration and climate-resilient farming practices.

FAO has also contributed to shaping Decision 19/COP.16, which emphasizes restoring agricultural land to address desertification and food insecurity. In parallel, the organization is implementing the NENA Regional Investment Framework for Ecosystem Restoration, developed in partnership with UNEP, UNCCD, and the League of Arab States. The framework supports “champion countries” in scaling up restoration investments.

As part of its technical support, FAO has developed the Suitability Crop Platform, offering detailed crop and soil data to guide sustainable land-use planning across dryland regions. Without accelerated efforts to rehabilitate degraded agricultural lands, FAO warns that food systems, ecological health, and rural economies in the Arab region will remain increasingly vulnerable.