Launch of the second edition of the ‘Salinity Magazine’ highlights global groundwater salinisation with Dutch expertise
‘The challenge of groundwater salinisation’, the second edition of the ‘Salinity Magazine’ has been published. The magazine was developed under the Saline Water & Food Systems (SWFS) partnership, coordinated by the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) and the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP). This edition looks at the increasing challenge of groundwater salinisation – a complex, underground issue threatening water and food security worldwide.
Launch at several international events
The magazine was launched in the third week of October 2025 at several international events, including the Rome Water Dialogue, part of the World Food Forum in Italy; the NFP World Food Day event in The Hague; and, the Cairo Water Week in Egypt.
The launch of the magazine was met with great enthusiasm. These well-attended international events underline how collaboration and knowledge exchange across sectors are essential to tackling salinity and safeguarding global water resources.
“The articles in this magazine offer perspectives for a future that is changing. This future cannot be shaped by isolated actions. Integrated action across sectors, disciplines, and scales is essential to truly address the salinisation challenge,” – Annemieke Nijhof, Managing Director Deltares.
Salinisation: A growing global concern
Salinisation is rapidly becoming one of the greatest threats to global food production and sustainable development. Rising sea levels, prolonged droughts, and unsustainable water use are accelerating the spread of salt-affected soils and freshwater sources. In both coastal and inland regions, this growing salinity reduces soil fertility, damages crops, and limits the availability of safe water for people and ecosystems.
Its impacts are wide-ranging: salinity reduces agricultural productivity, increases food insecurity, and undermines biodiversity, while putting additional pressure on already scarce water resources. The salinisation challenge highlights the deep interconnection between water, food, and climate – requiring integrated, cross-sectoral solutions that link science, policy, and practice.
Groundwater salinisation
Among the many aspects of salinisation, this edition focuses on one of the most pressing: groundwater salinisation. Groundwater provides nearly half of the world’s drinking water and more than 40% of irrigation water. Yet, in many regions, its salinity levels are steadily rising. Salt intrusion in coastal aquifers, excessive groundwater abstraction, and pollution from agriculture and industry are degrading groundwater quality and reducing its availability. As freshwater layers thin and brackish water rises, many aquifers can no longer be used without desalination.
The consequences extend far beyond water management. Groundwater salinisation affects food production, public health, and ecosystem stability. Addressing it requires both technical and social innovation – from smarter monitoring and modelling tools to stronger local capacity, better governance, and sustainable water-use practices. As the magazine shows, managing groundwater salinity effectively depends on long-term planning, cross-sector cooperation, and a shared understanding of the interconnected systems of water, soil, and climate.
The second edition of the Salinity Magazine
The second edition of Salinity Magazine provides an accessible and engaging overview of the global groundwater salinisation challenge. It brings together science, data, and practice – combining background information, key facts and figures, and inspiring field examples from around the world.
The magazine highlights the causes and impacts of saline and brackish groundwater, showcasing innovative approaches and smart water management strategies that help mitigate and adapt to salinity. It explores methods such as groundwater modelling, real-time monitoring, aquifer recharge, and other solutions that strengthen water resilience and food production in salt-affected areas.
Alongside expert interviews and reflections, the edition also features a timeline of key international developments. Together, these contributions illustrate how collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange can turn research into action – helping to build a more resilient and sustainable future for water and food systems.
Developed under the SWFS partnership
Salinity Magazine is produced under the Saline Water & Food Systems (SWFS) partnership – a collaboration coordinated by NWP and NFP. The partnership connects the Dutch water and agrifood sectors with international partners to address the growing salinity challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
By bringing together expertise from research institutes, governments, NGOs, and the private sector, the SWFS partnership promotes knowledge exchange, joint innovation, and practical action. Through initiatives such as seed money projects, international dialogues, and publications like this magazine, the partnership strengthens cooperation across sectors to build more resilient saline water and food systems worldwide.
This article is based on “Launch of the second edition of the Salinity Magazine highlights international groundwater salinisation and Dutch expertise,” published by Netherlands Water Partnership (October 2025).
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