1.7 Billion Face Crop Losses from Land Degradation: FAO – Mirage News

Executive Summary

A report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), “The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2025,” reveals that human-induced land degradation is a critical global crisis impacting 1.7 billion people through declining crop yields. This silent crisis directly undermines agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the intersection between land degradation, poverty, and food security, outlining actionable strategies to avoid, reduce, and reverse this trend through sustainable land management and targeted policies.

Global Impact of Land Degradation on Sustainable Development

Human Toll and Implications for SDG 2 and SDG 3

The consequences of land degradation have a significant human cost, directly impeding progress on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The report quantifies these impacts as follows:

• Approximately 1.7 billion people reside in areas where crop yields have fallen by at least 10 percent due to human-induced land degradation.
• Among the affected populations are 47 million children under the age of five who suffer from stunting, a severe form of malnutrition that poses a direct challenge to SDG Target 3.2.
• In absolute numbers, Asian nations are the most affected, a result of cumulative degradation combined with high population densities.

Root Causes and Connection to SDG 15

Land degradation, defined as a long-term decline in the land’s capacity to provide essential ecosystem functions, is a primary threat to SDG 15 (Life on Land). The report identifies its principal drivers:

• Human-Induced Pressures: These are the dominant contributors and include deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable cropping and irrigation practices.
• Natural Drivers: Factors such as soil erosion and salinization also contribute to the problem.

The analysis utilizes a debt-based approach, measuring degradation against a baseline of natural conditions. Key indicators such as soil organic carbon, soil erosion, and soil water are assessed, aligning with the goals of SDG Target 15.3 to combat desertification and achieve Land Degradation Neutrality.

Pathways to Reversal and Achieving SDG Targets

Opportunities for Restoration and Food Security

The report highlights significant opportunities to mitigate the crisis and advance global development goals. Reversing just 10 percent of human-induced degradation on existing croplands through sustainable land management practices could yield substantial benefits:

• Restore sufficient agricultural production to feed an additional 154 million people annually, making a direct contribution to SDG 2.
• Strengthen global food security, reduce pressure on natural ecosystems, and build more resilient agrifood systems, supporting SDG 15.
• Improve soil health through practices like crop rotation and cover cropping, which also contributes to biodiversity and climate action (SDG 13).

Recommended Strategies and Policy Interventions

To achieve these outcomes, the SOFA 2025 report calls for integrated land-use strategies and robust policy interventions. The following actions are recommended:

1. Regulatory Measures: Implement and enforce policies such as deforestation controls to prevent further degradation.
2. Incentive-Based Programs: Develop programs that reward farmers and land managers for adopting sustainable practices.
3. Cross-Compliance Mechanisms: Link agricultural subsidies and support to the achievement of positive environmental outcomes.

Policies must be tailored to specific farm structures, recognizing that smallholders face different constraints than larger farms. This approach is crucial for reducing land degradation while also addressing poverty (SDG 1) and ensuring equitable progress.

The Role of International Cooperation and FAO’s Contribution

Global Commitments and FAO’s Mandate

The international community has committed to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), a central component of SDG Target 15.3. The FAO is at the forefront of global efforts to provide policy guidance, data, and on-the-ground support to avoid, reduce, and reverse land degradation.

Data and Tools for Monitoring SDG Progress

As a custodian agency for multiple SDG indicators, FAO provides critical tools and data to guide action and monitor progress. Key contributions include:

• SDG 2 Monitoring: As the custodian agency for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), FAO monitors global agroecological yield gaps.
• Global Agro-Ecological Zoning (GAEZ v5): This system, used in the report, provides essential data for assessing agricultural potential and degradation impacts.
• Global Soil Organic Carbon Map (GSOC Map): This tool offers vital data on soil health, which is fundamental for sustainable land management and for tracking progress on SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   The article is fundamentally about the impact of land degradation on agriculture and food systems. It directly addresses issues of “agricultural productivity,” “food security,” “hunger,” and “malnutrition.” The text states that the crisis is “undermining agricultural productivity” and that reversing it could “strengthen food security.” It also explicitly mentions that the FAO is the custodian agency for SDG Indicator 2.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   The core subject of the article is “human-induced land degradation.” It discusses its causes, such as “deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable cropping,” and its effects on “ecosystem health.” The article advocates for solutions like “sustainable land management” and mentions the international commitment to achieve “Land Degradation Neutrality,” which is central to SDG 15.

3. SDG 1: No Poverty

   The article connects land degradation to socio-economic conditions by examining where crop yield losses “intersect with poverty.” It highlights the impact on “rural livelihoods” and notes that policies must be tailored to different farm structures, recognizing that “smallholders face distinct financial constraints.” This links the environmental issue directly to the economic well-being and poverty levels of affected populations.

4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   The article establishes a direct link between land degradation and health outcomes. It specifies that among the affected populations, “47 million are children under 5 years of age who are suffering from stunting.” Stunting is a severe form of malnutrition that impairs physical and cognitive development, making this a critical health issue connected to the article’s main topic.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. The article highlights that 1.7 billion people live in areas with falling crop yields, threatening their food security. It also quantifies a potential solution, stating that reversing 10% of degradation could “feed an additional 154 million people every year.”
   • Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The article discusses the need to improve “agricultural productivity” and “farmers’ livelihood,” with a specific focus on the challenges faced by “smallholders.”
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. This target is directly addressed through the call for “integrated sustainable land-use and management practices,” such as “crop rotations and cover cropping to preserve soil health, reduce erosion, and contribute to biodiversity.”

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, and achieve a land degradation-neutral world. This is the central theme of the article. It focuses on the causes and impacts of “human-induced land degradation” and explicitly mentions the global pledge to achieve “Land Degradation Neutrality under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).” The FAO’s mission to “avoid, reduce, and reverse land degradation” aligns perfectly with this target.

3. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of people living in poverty. The article implies this target by identifying that land degradation hotspots intersect with “poverty” and negatively impact “rural livelihoods,” suggesting that reversing degradation is a pathway to poverty reduction for these communities.

4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. The article connects to this target by highlighting that land degradation contributes to malnutrition, which is a leading cause of child mortality and developmental issues. The specific mention of “47 million… children under 5 years of age who are suffering from stunting” directly relates to the health and well-being of this vulnerable group.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

   • Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area. The article explicitly describes how this is measured. It applies a debt-based approach by comparing current values of three key indicators—“soil organic carbon, soil erosion, and soil water”—against baseline conditions. The mention of the “FAO Global Soil Organic Carbon Map (GSOC Map)” points to a specific tool used for this measurement.

2. Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

   • Indicator 2.2.1: Prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years of age. This indicator is explicitly mentioned with a precise figure: “47 million are children under 5 years of age who are suffering from stunting.”
   • Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture. This is implied through the article’s strong advocacy for adopting “sustainable land management practices such as crop rotations and cover cropping” as a solution to land degradation and falling crop yields. The article also notes FAO’s role as the custodian for SDG Indicator 2.

3. Indicators for SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • While no specific indicators for SDG 1 are named, the intersection of land degradation with “poverty” and “rural livelihoods” implies that metrics related to income and poverty rates in affected agricultural areas would be relevant. For SDG 3, the prevalence of stunting (Indicator 2.2.1) also serves as a crucial health indicator.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: miragenews.com