Salt-affected soils: threats and potentials | 27 - 31 May, 2024 | Valencia, Spain

AGENDA

Joint meeting of the International network of salt-affected soils (INSAS) and the COST Action on the sustainable use of salt-affected lands (SUSTAIN)

Venue: Facultat de Geografia i Història, Universitat de València, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 28, 46010 València, Spain

Among the diversity of the world’s soils, salt-affected soils are a group that have a distinct specificity. Many are primary or naturally saline soils, which range from mangroves, marshes and coastal wetlands to inland salt flats and ancient sea beds, all of which are home to unique ecosystems that are adapted to extreme salinity conditions. Their resilience makes a significant contribution to global biodiversity and offers a fascinating insight into life's capacity to adapt. Studying these environments not only enriches our understanding of nature, but also promises to unlock the keys to adapt to future scenarios that are essential for maintaining crops in saline conditions and ensuring food security for the world's growing population.

Yet, as the world's population grows exponentially and living standards improve, the pressure to convert once marginal land into fertile land is intensifying. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in semi-arid and arid regions, which rely heavily on irrigation for agricultural production and are scarce in fresh water resources. As a result, secondary salinization – the gradual and human induced accumulation of salts in the soil – is a serious obstacle to agricultural production. The situation is set to worsen with the increasing effects of global warming and climate change, forcing populations to abandon degraded areas and triggering migration.

To address these issues and foster stronger connections between science, policy, and farmers, the International Network of Salt-Affected Soils (INSAS) will convene its third meeting in Valencia, Spain, jointly with SUSTAIN COST Action, EU-funded project on the management of salt-affected soils (https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22144/). The meeting will have both in-person and remote participation via Zoom.

This 5-day meeting will include:

27 May, 2024 – Workshop on salt-affected soils and their management

28 May, 2024 – Technical sessions of INSAS and SUSTAIN

29 May, 2024 – Trainings on salt-affected soils and halophytes

30 May, 2024 – Field trip to the coastal marshlands and water desalination factory

31 May, 2024 – Field trip to the fotovoltaic plant, inland salt playa under restoration, gypsiferous soils high in NaCl under orchards, solar salt mining and salt-affected cotton fields

There is no registration fee, but in-person participants are responsible for their travel, accommodation, and meals. More information (online and in-person registration, agenda and abstract submission form) can be found using links provided below.

For students and early career scientists, there is an opportunity to have a financial support to attend the training school (May 29, 2024) in-person. Please see the details at this link.

The Scientific Committee is currently accepting abstracts that will compete for oral and poster presentations during this event. The abstracts should be submitted in English, maximum 3.000 characters (without spaces). The deadline for submission of abstracts is 30 April 2024. Abstracts should address one of the following themes: