Ioanna Kakabouki, Konstantinos N. Baginetas, Antonios Mavroeidis, Panteleimon Stavropoulos, Ioannis Roussis, Antigolena Folina, George Papadopoulos, Vasiliki Pachi, Stavroula Kallergi
Abstract Salinity poses a major threat to agriculture and food security globally. The salinization of soil and water is further deteriorating the pressure that climate change puts on the agrifood sector. Regions that are prone to salinity are reporting significant yield reductions and are coping with suboptimal agricultural production. One such region is the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). MENA constitutes one of the most climate sensitive regions of the world and agriculture is severely hindered by salinity. Despite the extensive research on salinity management in MENA, literature lacks region-wide assessments that could be used for the development of implementable and governance-informed management frameworks. The aim of the present study is to assess the impact of salinity in the countries of MENA, present measures for the mitigation and adaptation to salinity, and facilitate the development of a holistic framework for the management of soil and water salinization. Mitigation and adaptation measures for salinity in MENA include soil, water, and fertilization management, crop and agricultural diversification, breeding and genetic tools, and novel technologies and nature-based solutions. Despite the availability of measures and strategies that could significantly benefit the region in managing salinity, effective and efficient governance is necessary for the successful implementation of any holistic salinity-related policy.