Biotechnological strategies for building resilient food systems in arid regions

As climate change shrinks arable land, arid and semi-arid regions represent critical frontiers for food production. Desert Agriculture: Biotechnological Innovations for Global Food Security assembles a team of crop scientists and biotechnologists to present integrated farming systems, climate-smart production methods, and regenerative practices that optimize water use, restore degraded soils, and harness renewable resources.

The volume details AI-driven crop modelling, data analytics for resource optimization, and mechanization approaches adapted to desert environments. Biotechnological coverage spans genetic engineering, stress-tolerance strategies, and beneficial microorganisms that enhance crop resilience. Case studies illustrate real-world applications, while dedicated sections examine how traditional agronomic knowledge integrates with modern molecular and computational tools for sustainable outcomes.

Readers will also find:

• Policy frameworks and actionable strategies designed to advance sustainable farming practices and secure long-term nutrition in water-scarce regions
• Hydroponics and drip irrigation systems engineered to maximize yields while minimizing freshwater consumption across diverse arid landscape conditions
• Regenerative soil management techniques including saline water utilization and solar energy integration for desert-adapted agricultural production systems
• Transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to identifying and developing stress-tolerant crop varieties suited for extreme heat and drought conditions
• Evidence-based guidance on combining indigenous farming knowledge with genome editing and bioinformatics for culturally grounded crop improvement programs

Designed for plant and crop scientists, biotechnologists, agronomists, botanists, and policymakers, Desert Agriculture delivers the research foundations, technological frameworks, and practical case studies needed to transform unproductive arid landscapes into sustainable, climate-resilient food production systems for current and future generations.

Sajid Fiaz is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Pakistan, Adjunct Researcher at Henan Institute of Science and Technology, China and Adjunct Faculty at Western Caspian University, Azerbaijan

Muhammad Uzair is an Assistant Scientific Officer at the National Institute for Genomics and Advanced Biotechnology, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Rui Pan is an Associate Professor at the MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, China.

Afifa Younas is an IPFP-Fellow at Baba Guru Nanak University, Punjab, Pakistan.

Ahmed Mahmoud Ismail is an Associate Professor at the Pests and Plant Diseases Unit, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.

Khalid Muhammad is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.