This session will bring together different stakeholders, from government representatives to international partnerships, as well as the private sector, civil society representatives and researchers to address the issue of salinity in agriculture (from both - the water scarcity and land degradation perspectives).

Living with salinity is a challenge affecting millions of people and their livelihoods around the world. Salinization is projected to increase in future water scarcity scenarios also because of climate change and population growth. This session aims to present multiple solutions related to sustainable water and soil management practices as well as halophyte agriculture as an emerging response/tool to adapt agriculture (farming and food production) to climate change.

AGENDA

Moderator: Nassila Boukaria, WASAG, FAO

Keynote address: Lifeng Li, Director, Land and Water Division, FAO

Video: “Salt-affected soils: Discovering a missed reality” - Maria Konyushkova, INSAS, FAO’s Global Soil Partnership

Speeches:

• Dr Angela Moreno, President, National Institute of Cabo Verde's Agricultural Research and Development (INIDA), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Cabo Verde
• Dr Saleemul Huq,International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Bangladesh
• Dr Tarifa Al Zaabi, Acting Director General, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA)
• Dr Bas Bruning, Specialist Saline Agriculture, The Salt Doctors
• Stephen Kithuka, Head of Programmes, Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa
• Jelle Beekma, Senior Water Resources Specialist, Asian Development Bank

Closing remarks: Marcel Beukeboom, Minister Industry and Water (lead on Climate), The Netherlands and Ambassador of the Netherlands to the UN Organizations for Food and Agriculture

You are welcome to join the event through Youtube’s live stream available at: https://www.waterforclimate.net.