A strategy has been launched at the Cop16 climate conference in Riyadh to address the consequences of land degradation on food security amid concerns that over-cultivation could result in dwindling crop yields and soaring prices.
The presidency of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification conference – known as Cop16 – launched the Riyadh Action Agenda on Friday to develop a framework to protect the planet's natural resources.
Intensive agriculture can permanently damage the fertility of land and soil, with farmers and communities left to count the cost.
Why is this important?
According to the UNCCD, crop yields could decline by as much as 50 per cent by 2050 and cause food prices to spike by an estimated 30 per cent as a result of land degradation.
That is because agriculture is the main cause of land degradation, with existing agri-food systems playing a significant role in deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and the loss of biodiversity.
The UNCCD reports that agriculture is responsible for 23 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, 80 per cent of deforestation, and 70 per cent of global freshwater consumption.
"Around 95 per cent of our food comes from the soil, and yet we continue to treat it like dirt. Unsustainable land management, farming practices and industrial-scale profiteering, are creating a simply unsustainable pace of land degradation, with every year 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil being lost." said Dr Osama Faqeeha, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and adviser to the Cop16 Presidency.
"This is a leading cause of global food and water insecurity, impacting everyone from farmers toiling increasingly barren fields, to consumers paying more for essential goods.”
Take for example the impact of cotton production on the Aral Sea, shared by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Once the world's fourth-largest freshwater lake, it was used for large-scale agriculture irrigation. Decline of the waterbody began in the 1960s and by 2010 the lake had lost 90 per cent of its original size.
Once a 40-metre-deep fishing-scape is now a sandy desert with stranded ships. This impacted the livelihoods and lives of the farmers and communities surrounding the shores of the lake.
On the sidelines of Cop16, researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust), published a policy paper, Bending the Curve: A Call to Action on Land Restoration and Sustainability, which outlines a framework for halving degraded land by 2050.
Speaking to The National from Cop16, Professor Fernando Maestre, one of the paper's authors, said the initiative aims to reverse the negative impacts of land degradation, which include increased food insecurity and reduced water resources.
"One of the one of the key policy actions that should be implementing is reducing food waste. We are proposing a very ambitious target of reducing food waste by 75 per cent by 2050," said Prof Maestre.
He told The National that a balance is needed between the initiatives to prevent food waste and those that encourage more sustainable food systems. According to the UN, roughly one third of food produced globally is wasted every year.
"We are wasting food every year, and the cost is approximately over $750 billion per year. Can you imagine if we can recover a fraction of that amount? We can use that money to incentivise farmers to do a more." said Prof Maestre.
The Kaust policy paper has called for synergies across UN Conventions for climate, biodiversity and land to provide joint policy recommendations and oversee implementation – to put food on the table and agendas of governments. This includes establishing an Integrated Conventions Panel to ensure accountability and track progress.
Prof Maestre said that such international collaboration on the global food system will support policy shifts that could transform the way land is farmed and industry is incentivised.
"In Europe, for example, the way that we produce food is mainly driven by the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union, by subsidy, people plant whatever is paid for," he said.
But Prof Maestre has proposed that instead of subsidising farmers for crops that may not be fully harvested, farmers could be paid for capturing carbon in plots of land that are at risk of being overcultivated.
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RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas
6 Romain Grosjean, Haas
7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
9 Carlos Sainz, Renault
10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren
12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
13 Sergio Perez, Force India
14 Lance Stroll, Williams
15 Esteban Ocon, Force India
16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso
17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber
19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India 1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps
Rafael Nadal's record at the MWTC
2009 Finalist
2010 Champion
Jan 2011 Champion
Dec 2011 Semi-finalist
Dec 2012 Did not play
Dec 2013 Semi-finalist
2015 Semi-finalist
Jan 2016 Champion
Dec 2016 Champion
2017 Did not play
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Specs
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
