Global soil community advances action on salt-affected soils at the Fourth Meeting of INSAS in China
From 11 to 13 September 2025, a Global Conference on Scientific Utilization and Development of Saline Soil and the Fourth Meeting of the International Network of Salt‑affected Soils (INSAS) took place in Dunhuang, China, under the theme “Science, policy and practice for the sustainable management of salt-affected soils.” The event brought together 180 scholars, experts and business representatives from 13 countries (in person) and over 200 participants from 61 countries (online). The gathering reaffirmed INSAS as the main global platform for knowledge exchange and cooperation in tackling one of the world’s most pressing soil challenges: salinity and sodicity, which together affect over 1.38 billion hectares of land – 10.7 percent of the Earth’s surface – threatening agricultural productivity, water resources and food security.
The conference was co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the China Agricultural University, the People’s Government of Dunhuang City, Mei-li-hua-xia Ecology and Environment Technology, and the National Technology Innovation Centre for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-alkali Land. The meeting featured five keynote speeches, ten oral presentations, over thirty posters, and seven specialized training sessions. Topics ranged from nanotechnology and halophyte use to soil mapping and saline wastewater treatment. Participants also reviewed progress across all regional action areas of INSAS and updated the global work plan, aimed at promoting sustainable management of saline and alkali lands.
In her opening remarks, Nora Berrahmouni, Deputy Director of FAO’s Land and Water Division highlighted that salt-affected soils in their natural habitats thrive with biodiversity and are a great example of adaptation and resilience to extreme condition, but when salinity and sodicity are human-induced, salt-affected soils become a global challenge to food security, water resources, and rural livelihoods. She further emphasized the critical role of INSAS and the GSP in mobilizing countries and partners to implement key actions outlined in the Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils (GSAS) report. She highlighted FAO’s leadership in scaling up sustainable soil management practices, strengthening monitoring and assessment of salinity and sodicity and supporting countries in building institutional capacities and policy frameworks China has been at the forefront of developing innovative technologies for the sustainable management and restoration of salt-affected soils, this event is an opportunity to learn from these advances and from each other to turn challenges into opportunities, turning degraded soils into fertile and productive lands, she added.
The plenary session featured keynote presentations on cutting-edge approaches and solutions for rehabilitating salt-affected soils. Shaozhong Kang (China Agricultural University) presented water-saving utilization strategies Xuron Mei (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, CAAS) discussed strategic pathways and technological innovations for saline-alkali land utilization (Xurong Mei, and Kazuyuki Inubushi (Tokyo University of Agriculture) presented the use of advanced materials such as biodegradable mulches and nanofibres in salt-affected ecosystems. These contributions highlighted the transformative potential of science and technology to rehabilitate degraded lands and enhance agricultural productivity and resilience.
The scientific programme included ten oral presentations, over thirty poster contributions and seven specialized training sessions on topics such as nanotechnology applications, mapping salt-affected soils, ecosystem function assessment, saline-leaching wastewater treatment, and the use of halophytes in land rehabilitation. The ten best posters were awarded certificates of recognition for their innovative contributions.
On 12 September, regional coordinators presented progress from all seven INSAS regions – Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Eurasia, North America, and the Pacific – followed by discussions on adapting the global work plan to regional priorities and needs.
Closing the meeting, Jorge Batlle-Sales, Chair of INSAS, reaffirmed the network’s mission to generate scientific evidence, inform policy and foster voluntary collaboration among global experts. He highlighted the essential role of INSAS in scaling up solutions and building capacities to address soil salinization, a challenge that is intensifying with climate change and unsustainable land and water use.
The meeting concluded with a consolidated consensus from all for a coordinated global response to salinity and sodicity. It strengthened partnerships, advanced scientific collaboration and set the stage for scaling up sustainable soil management solutions: placing soil health at the center of efforts to achieve resilient agrifood systems and long-term food security.
A field visit to the salt-affected farmlands showcased successful soil rehabilitation practices, including an integrated Ca-polyamino acid soil amendment combined with drip irrigation. This technique significantly reduces soil pH (from 9.8 to 8.2) and salt content, while increasing organic matter and crop yields. This site, now a national demonstration base, offers a scalable model for managing saline soils in arid and semi-arid regions.
The event attracted wide national and regional media coverage, including Guangming Daily, People’s Daily, China Fortune Network, China Agricultural University News, Xinhua News Agency, China Agricultural and Rural Information Network, and NetEase, highlighting the growing global and national commitment to sustainable soil management.
Related links:
Media coverage:
中国农业大学新闻网（China Agricultural University News）
中国农业农村信息网（China Agricultural and Rural Information Network）