Biosaline agriculture: a sustainable solution for water-scarce lands

Salinity presents a critical challenge to agriculture worldwide, particularly in regions already grappling with water scarcity. This issue arises when excessive salt accumulates in soil or water, hindering plant growth by limiting water absorption. While salinity can occur naturally, human activities like poor irrigation practices and overuse of groundwater often exacerbate the problem.

In Africa, the situation is especially dire. With large swathes of the continent already experiencing water shortages, the use of saline water for farming damages soil, decreases crop yields, and forces farmers to abandon arable land. Salinity affects approximately 80 million hectares across the continent, severely impacting food security and rural livelihoods, particularly in North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Biosaline agriculture, however, offers a promising alternative. This innovative farming method embraces the challenge of salinity, using salt-tolerant crops and saline water to transform unproductive lands into fertile farmland. Crops like quinoa and certain barley varieties thrive in salty conditions, and advances in agricultural science are continuously developing new salt-resistant crop varieties.

Morocco leads research in biosaline agriculture

Abdelaziz Hirich, a professor of agriculture in marginal environments at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), has emerged as a leading advocate for biosaline agriculture. With one billion hectares of land globally affected by salinity—including 80 million hectares in Africa and one million in Morocco—Hirich stresses that biosaline agriculture is no longer optional but a necessity.

Hirich’s expertise in salt-tolerant crops began during his academic career at the Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute in Rabat and evolved further during his tenure at Dubai’s International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). Over six years at ICBA, Hirich led projects across the UAE, Egypt, and several sub-Saharan countries, including Sierra Leone, the Gambia, and Mozambique. His work focused on introducing salt-tolerant crops like forages and quinoa to salt-affected areas.

Since joining UM6P in 2020, Hirich has spearheaded biosaline agriculture initiatives across Morocco, targeting marginal environments where traditional crops fail due to high salinity and drought. His projects include cultivating salt-tolerant crops such as quinoa, blue panicum, Sesbania, cowpea, and halophytes like salicornia. These efforts also incorporate sustainable irrigation techniques using saline groundwater instead of freshwater, and participatory research with farmers to test and adopt new agricultural practices.

UM6P’s approach is hands-on, with 15 experimental platforms across Morocco acting as “living laboratories.” These platforms, located in regions such as Laayoune, Smara, Tarfaya, Boujdour, Bir Anzarane, and Dakhla, as well as in Doukkala, Rahamna, and Khouribga, test crops and irrigation strategies under real-world conditions. A notable example is the UM6P farm in Boujdour’s Jrifia area, where desalinated groundwater is used for large-scale agricultural development in partnership with Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture.

“It’s a demonstration platform to support farmers in the newly irrigated 9,000-hectare perimeter. We provide technical expertise to help them transition to more resilient agricultural practices,” Hirich explained.

Barriers to adoption

Despite its potential, biosaline agriculture faces significant challenges. One major obstacle is the limited availability of salt-tolerant crop varieties. Large seed companies prioritize conventional crops grown under freshwater conditions, such as fruits and vegetables, leaving farmers with few alternatives for saline environments.

Farmer resistance to change also hinders progress. Many farmers are reluctant to replace traditional crops like maize and alfalfa, even when these crops fail due to salinity. “Farmers sometimes don’t realize they have a salinity problem or are too accustomed to their traditional crops. Even if maize stops working, they will still try to grow it,” Hirich observed.

Economic factors further complicate adoption. High-value crops like berries and tomatoes, which are sensitive to salinity, generate more income than salt-tolerant alternatives. While some biosaline crops, such as quinoa and blue panicum, are becoming more commercially viable, scaling up remains difficult.

Policy gaps also pose challenges. Biosaline agriculture has not yet been fully integrated into Morocco’s major agricultural strategies, such as the Green Morocco Plan and Generation Green Plan. Hirich believes that incorporating salinity management into national policies is essential for preventing long-term soil degradation and productivity loss.

The role of biosaline agriculture in addressing water scarcity

Morocco’s ongoing water crisis, now in its seventh consecutive year of drought, has severely impacted agriculture, industry, and daily life. To address this, the government has invested heavily in desalination plants in regions such as Agadir, Casablanca, Safi, and Dakhla. However, desalination is both costly and environmentally taxing.

Biosaline agriculture offers a complementary solution by reducing reliance on freshwater for irrigation. By using brackish or saline water and drought-resistant crops, this method allows farmers to maintain productivity while conserving freshwater resources.

Hirich emphasized the dual benefits of biosaline agriculture: combating water scarcity and restoring soil productivity. With Africa losing two hectares of arable land every minute due to salinity and desertification, biosaline agriculture provides a critical tool for ensuring future food security.

“Salinity is irreversible. Once soil becomes saline, it never goes back to its original state,” Hirich warned, citing data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). He argued that governments must act swiftly to integrate biosaline solutions into mainstream agricultural policies and provide long-term funding for research and development.

In Morocco, progress has been made, but Hirich stresses the need for broader adoption. “Biosaline agriculture is not just an alternative, it is a necessity,” he concluded.