Desertification and Agrifood Systems: Restoration of Degraded Agricultural Lands in the Arab Region

Feras Ziadat, Giulia Conchedda (), Fidaa Haddad, Jeremiah Njeru, Aurélie Brès, Mona Dawelbait and Lifeng Li
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Feras Ziadat: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00154 Rome, Italy
Giulia Conchedda: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00154 Rome, Italy
Fidaa Haddad: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00154 Rome, Italy
Jeremiah Njeru: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00154 Rome, Italy
Aurélie Brès: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00154 Rome, Italy
Mona Dawelbait: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00154 Rome, Italy
Lifeng Li: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00154 Rome, Italy

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: The FAO estimates that 1660 million hectares globally are degraded due to human activities, with over 60% of this degradation affecting agricultural lands, including croplands and pastures. Given that 95% of global food production depends on land, this widespread degradation presents significant challenges to agrifood systems. This study compares patterns of human-induced land degradation in Arab countries with global and regional averages, examining drivers, impacts on agrifood systems, current yield gaps, and restoration opportunities. The results indicate that in the Arab region, two-thirds of the 70 million hectares affected by human-induced degradation—over 46 million hectares—are agricultural land, with croplands particularly impacted. However, with less than 4% of land in the Arab region designated for restoration, the region lags behind global targets. Restoring 26 million hectares of degraded cropland could reduce the yield gap by up to 50% for oil crops and help cereal, root, and tuber crops approach their potential yields. These findings underscore the pressing need for a regional initiative specifically targeting agricultural land degradation to enhance food security, reduce poverty, and support sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

Keywords: human-induced land degradation; land degradation neutrality; land restoration; agricultural land (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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