Loss of Viable Land Across the World: Potential for Another Dust Bowl?
- Sydney Morning Herald
- Mar 23
- 2 min read
Similar to almost 90 years ago, desertification has taken an upward spike in occurrence. With nearly 36 million square kilometers of land and 250 million people affected by the increase, the United Nations Environmental Program plans to address the rising issue concerning the loss of seedable land and its effect on global food storage.
Previous desertification issues mainly arose due to poor farming, as the delegate from the US in UNEP mentions. The Dust Bowl and similar phenomena deal heavy blows on food production and arable land. With heavy tilling and unregulated amounts of pesticides, topsoil is eroding at an extreme rate. Farmers solely follow past farming techniques, but with a change to these techniques and education concerning these changes, erosion can be stopped.
As the US and other supporting nations, like Kosovo and Croatia, approach this issue, they not only take into consideration the possibility of regulation but also a change in farming practices. With the addition of cover crops and crop rotation, the US plans on heavily decreasing the amount of topsoil eroded by wind and water. Similar plans are the main goal for Kosovo, with no till farming and water management as an addition. Another potential solution is exemplified by Croatia’s plan of reforestation and promotion of land management.
The loss of land available for growing crops can lead to a mass food shortage. As seen throughout history, a decrease in food leads to an increase in famine probability, as the Kosovo delegation affirms. The erosion of topsoil leads to a degradation in soil health, which in turn leads to a decrease in agricultural production. As farming goes unchecked, it will slowly degrade Earth’s liveable land. If these patterns continue the world will face constant probability of food shortages arising, with Australia and other arid countries at the highest risk.
What can be done? Using regenerative farming techniques, like the US and Croatia hope to implement, the issue of desertification and lowered food production can be reversed. With the changes to agriculture and farming not only will soil health improve, but also food production can be at an all time high. Education to farmers on changing their tilling practices would also better the issue. Following the US’s suite, the countries attending the UNEP committee hope to address the issue of desertification, benefitting the world and ensuring a bright future.
Sources:
Rafferty, John P, and Stuart L Pimm. “Desertification | Ecology.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 29 Jan. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/desertification.
Delegation of the United States
Delegation of Kosovo
Delegation of Croatia
By Alessandra Roberts
March 23 2025
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