The Agricultural Goldmines of Deserts
- From
-
Published on
21.04.21
- Impact Area

Covering about one-third of global land surface, deserts are characterized by little to no rainfall, poor and sandy soil, extreme temperatures, scorching winds, little water catchment potential, and almost complete reliance on often non-renewable groundwater.
Yet, deserts are a source of livelihood for millions of people. But the food systems and agrobiodiversity of deserts are under threat, which is where ICARDA comes in.
“Many innovative technologies used in desert environments, such as net houses, hydroponic and drip irrigation systems, have increased the productivity of crops while decreasing water and energy use,” explained Dr. Jacques Wery, ICARDA’s Deputy Director of Research.
“By integrating these technologies with local knowledge, and including stakeholders from the public sector, the private sector, the value chain, and the farmers themselves, the impact is far greater than any individual intervention,” he added.
Forty-four percent of the world’s food, including half its livestock, is produced in the dry areas. Of the 2.7 billion people that live in the drylands, it is estimated that about 40 million live in deserts that typically receive under 100mm of rainfall a year.
Yet, the sustainability of vulnerable desert agriculture is gravely threatened by several factors that combined, form a perfect storm situation. Climate change, population pressures, inappropriate land management practices, extreme temperatures, low soil fertility, limited availability of organic matter, water scarcity and salinity, wind erosion, high evaporation rates, and isolation from energy sources and markets are all factors that combine to form a bleak outlook for the family farmers who live there.
Related news
-
Co-creating Resilient Landscapes: Transitioning to Multifunctional Approach in India
Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program02.10.25-
Biodiversity
-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Environmental health
-
Environmental health & biodiversity
The CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Science Program signifies an innovative step in global re…
Read more -
-
Towards Genuine Co-Production for Just and Sustainable Transformation: Reflections from a Session at TC/ESG25 in Johannesburg
Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program02.10.25-
Biodiversity
-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Environmental health
-
Environmental health & biodiversity
At the Transformations Community Navigating Sustainability Transformations Towards Justice and Equit…
Read more -
-
Creating the Conditions for Change: How Partnerships are Transforming Rice Production
Eisen Bernard Bernardo02.10.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Mitigation
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are a powerful tool for transforming agriculture, and nowhere is …
Read more -