Overcoming the salinity barrier

The areas of irrigated soils affected by salinity are multiplied under new climate conditions. As a result, crop production is limited and food security threatened. Salinity-resistant seeds are critical for the business of seed producers. The EU-funded SALICROP project proposes a pioneering biotechnology solution that permits crops to grow on marginal land or be irrigated with brackish water. The solution is a development of the Israeli Salicrop, a start-up specialised in seed treatments, and has already been successfully tested in tomatoes, peppers, spinach, rice, wheat and corn. The project aims to prepare a feasibility study that will help the company deepen its knowledge and understanding of the international market, enabling commercialisation of the innovative solution worldwide.