Saltwater is poisoning crops. The ‘sea asparagus’ could be the solution

The salicornia thrives in salt marshes and wetlands. New research shows how its survival secrets might be harnessed for food production in a changing climate.

Feeding the world’s 8 billion people requires huge amounts of water. Globally, about 70% of the freshwater we pull from rivers, lakes, and streams goes toward agriculture. But that essential resource is under threat: Saltwater is saturating the soil, poisoning crops, and ruining farmland.