The growing trend of saltwater intrusion and its impact on coastal agriculture: Challenges and opportunities

Saltwater intrusion (SWI) into coastal agricultural lands represents a growing threat to agricultural productivity, ecosystem stability, and local economies. This phenomenon, affecting coastal surface and ground waters, is driven by intensified natural processes and anthropogenic factors under a changing climate. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the drivers and trends of SWI and their impacts on the transition of coastal agricultural systems. We emphasize the importance of developing salt-tolerant crop varieties and implementing controlled environment agriculture to maintain agricultural productivity in affected coastal regions. Additionally, we discuss the role of marsh migration (i.e., allowing…

• CU
  Clemson University
• NI
  National Institute of Food and Agriculture