Innovations
TERRASAFE is testing five innovations
for combatting desertification:
We are also working with our pilot areas to identify other local innovations suitable for combatting desertification in their respective contexts.
Isotech
Symbiotic circular green
waste management
Agrodit
Crop guardian soil
sensors and app
Agrobiogel
Lignin-based
hydrogel
Imflorestal
Biochar-compost mixture
CETIM
Artificial tailor-made soil
View some of our latest news!
First TERRASAFE paper explores how communities make sense of rural depopulation
The study contributes new insights into the social dimensions of land degradation and desertification.
TERRASAFE shares desertification research at Soils for Europe conference
Bringing together more than 500 researchers, policymakers and practitioners, the conference provided a platform to discuss the latest advances in soil research across Europe and to foster new collaborations and actions in support of healthy soils.
Our latest TERRASAFE newsletter is out
In this edition, we go behind the scenes of ongoing work across Europe and North Africa, from emerging field insights to new research on land degradation. Highlights… Interview with Mark Schauer, Economics of Land Degradation We interviewed Mark Schauer,...
Desertification and soil salinisation in Tunisia: why does it happen and what’s the solution?
Excessively salty soil is one of the biggest threats to agriculture and food security. In this blog, Dr Nissaf Karbout explains why soil salinisation is degrading critical cropland in Tunisia and considers what the future holds for farmers in the region. Globally,...
Carob – a future-food that can grow in dryland areas
By Dr Charlotte Chivers Summary: Carob, a drought-tolerant Mediterranean tree, is gaining attention as a climate-resilient crop for drying regions where traditional agriculture is struggling. Mature trees survive on minimal rainfall and poor soils, though seedlings...
DesertNet International showcases science-based innovations for monitoring land degradation and desertification
At CRIC23, held on 4 December 2025, DesertNet International gathered leading scientists, policy experts and UNCCD representatives for a session on emerging approaches to monitor land degradation and desertification risks (LDD) and to assess restoration efforts. The...
TERRASAFE’s biannual newsletter out now
Issue #3 of our biannual newsletter has been published. In it, we discuss the innovations we are going to test, and how and why they were chosen. Plus plenty of news from the TERRASAFE project team. Click on the image to download it.
Green walls and straw checkerboards: Global efforts towards reversing desertification
By Andrew Arkle Desertification is a contemporary problem, exacerbated by human-driven climate change and the mismanagement of natural resources. Efforts are underway worldwide to remediate and reverse desertification, with some successes. This blog looks at some of...
First Tunisian site visit for innovation partner Isotech
In October, Isotech, which turns green waste into high-quality, low-cost compost, visited our Tunisian site for the first time after it was selected by the Tunisian Pilot Area Partnership. The visit focused on stakeholder, substrate, and infrastructure mapping...
Our innovations to combat desertification
We have selected 7 desertification-combatting innovations to test. This marks a major landmark in our project.