According to the FAO, yields in areas with degraded lands decrease by about 10%. This issue is particularly acute in densely populated countries in Asia.
The FAO defines degradation as the slow deterioration of the land's ability to perform its functions. The causes of this process can be both natural—such as erosion or salinization—and anthropogenic: deforestation, overgrazing, inefficient farming, and improper irrigation.
The organization estimated that restoring at least 10% of degraded arable land could additionally provide food for 154 million people annually.
To achieve this goal, the implementation of comprehensive measures is necessary: rational land use planning, legislation against deforestation, farmer support programs, and environmental requirements for obtaining subsidies.
The authors of the study emphasize that the issue of land degradation affects not only ecological aspects. This phenomenon directly impacts agricultural productivity, the standard of living in rural communities, and the reliability of the food system as a whole.
