Science for society
Soil salinization degrades agricultural lands and reduces crop yields, threatening global food security. However, recent global patterns and drivers of soil salinity remain poorly understood. This research provides the first digital soil maps of global soil salinity changes over the past 25 years. The findings reveal that while many regions are becoming less saline, concerning salinization hotspots are emerging in tropical Africa and Asia, precisely where the world grows its rice and wheat. The study identifies soil evaporation, influenced by climate change, as the primary driver of these changes. The long-term ambition is to translate these scientific insights into practical tools for farmers, policymakers, and land managers. This research identifies priority regions for intervention, including Australia, southern Africa, western United States, the Middle East, and Central Asia. These findings enable targeted allocation of resources for soil remediation and sustainable agricultural practices. The work opens avenues for transdisciplinary collaboration with agronomists, hydrologists, and local communities to develop climate-informed soil management strategies. Ultimately, this research provides the scientific foundation for policy decisions and on-the-ground interventions, supporting efforts to achieve food security and sustainable development goals in a changing climate.