Salt-Loving Plants Could Provide Abundant Food—and Maybe Even Biofuel

If life gives you saltwater, grow salt-loving plants. That's the cheerful prescription two ecologists have offered to cope with the salinization of coastal fresh water supplies that would likely occur if global warming causes sea levels to rise, bringing saltwater sloshing further inland. The scientists say that convincing farmers to grow edible salt-tolerant plants would prepare them for changing conditions, and would also allow them to utilize previously barren coastal deserts and degraded agricultural land. Governments should begin to invest in "saltwater agriculture," says coauthor Jelte Rozema.