Land degradation poses a significant threat to global food security, affecting approximately 1.7 billion people by limiting agricultural yields. This policy brief explores the multifaceted nature of land degradation, defined as the long-term decline in land’s capacity to provide essential ecosystem functions and services. Human activities, such as deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices, are increasingly responsible for this decline, which manifests across croplands, pastures, and forests. The impacts range from subtle reductions in ecosystem function to complete loss of agricultural viability. Notably, countries with intensive agricultural histories experience greater yield losses, often masked by heavy use of synthetic fertilizers, while sub-Saharan Africa’s yield gaps are more closely linked to limited access to inputs and infrastructure.The brief highlights that land degradation is neither inevitable nor irreversible. Targeted investments in people, institutions, and sustainable practices can transform agriculture from a driver of degradation into a force for restoration. Reversing just 10 percent of cropland degradation could feed an additional 154 million people annually. The analysis underscores the importance of matching interventions to land conditions and farm structures, strengthening land tenure and governance, and addressing systemic barriers to sustainable intensification. Policy approaches must balance private incentives with public costs, considering the broader context of land-use decisions shaped by productivity, profitability, and global drivers such as trade and climate change. Ultimately, sustainable land management requires inclusive governance and long-term stewardship to restore productivity and ecosystem services, ensuring resilient agrifood systems for the future.

Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2025 – Addressing land degradation across landholding scales.