Saltwater agriculture — also known as saline or seawater farming — is emerging as a sustainable solution to the growing challenges faced by agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions. As the world grapples with rising water scarcity and soil salinization, this innovative approach harnesses seawater and salt-tolerant plant species to produce food, fuel, and fodder while conserving precious freshwater resources.

One of the key advantages of saltwater farming is its potential to meet the increasing global demand for food without putting additional pressure on land and freshwater reserves. With over 70% of the Earth’s surface covered by oceans, seawater farming offers vast, untapped potential for food production. Using specially designed structures such as floating platforms, nets, and cages, farmers can cultivate a diverse range of seafood and plants sustainably.

Saltwater farming also diversifies our food supply and promotes global food security. By reducing dependence on traditional fisheries, it helps mitigate overfishing and the depletion of wild fish populations. Moreover, through controlled breeding and cultivation, it ensures a consistent supply of seafood while preserving natural ecosystems.

Harnessing the Power of the Sea

Traditional farming relies heavily on freshwater, which accounts for nearly 70% of global consumption. However, in arid regions such as the Gulf states, freshwater is increasingly scarce due to over-extraction and rising salinity levels. Saltwater agriculture turns this limitation into an opportunity by growing halophytes—plants like salicornia, quinoa, and sea purslane—that thrive in saline conditions. These crops can be cultivated using seawater irrigation or desalinated brine from solar-powered systems, greatly reducing freshwater reliance .

Projects across the Middle East demonstrate this transformation. At the Red Sea Farms in Saudi Arabia, climate-controlled greenhouses use saltwater cooling and solar panels integrated into heat-blocking glass to grow tomatoes and leafy greens sustainably. Similarly, a one-hectare seawater greenhouse project near Berbera, Somalia, demonstrated that saltwater-cooled environments could produce lettuce, cucumbers, and even beans in completely freshwater-free systems . These initiatives highlight how saltwater farming can create “oases” in barren regions through closed-loop systems powered by renewable energy.

Global and Regional Momentum

Globally, the saline agriculture market was valued at over USD 587 million in 2024 and continues to grow as nations adopt salt-tolerant crops and technologies to restore degraded lands . 

In Asia-Pacific, particularly in coastal regions of India and China, governments are promoting saline soil cultivation to reduce dependence on limited arable land. Likewise, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are integrating saline agriculture with AI-driven monitoring and precision irrigation as part of their national food security strategies .

Saltwater hydroponics—another innovation in this field—combines the principles of hydroponic farming with low-salinity water systems, allowing controlled growth of vegetables even in coastal or desert ecosystems. These methods have potential to reshape agricultural practices and catalyze new forms of climate-resilient food production.

AgriNext 2025: Showcasing Sustainable Innovations

The upcoming AgriNext 2025 conference and awards platform, themed “Farming the future with technology’s touch,” will spotlight saltwater agriculture among other groundbreaking AgriTech innovations. The event will gather global experts to explore solutions that merge technology with ecological wisdom, including seawater greenhouses, saline-tolerant crops, regenerative soil systems, and smart irrigation. It marks a clear shift toward holistic and resilient agricultural ecosystems capable of thriving even under extreme environmental conditions.

A Path Toward Resilient Food Systems

Saltwater agriculture represents more than an adaptation strategy—it is a blueprint for resilience and renewal in the world’s driest areas. By integrating renewable energy, salt-tolerant crops, and precision technologies, it can help ensure food security without straining limited freshwater resources. As AgriNext 2025 will showcase, the saltwater revolution has the potential to transform deserts into sustainable farmlands and redefine the future of agriculture under climate stress.