Reviewed by Lexie CornerApr 28 2025
Researchers from Mississippi State University highlight the need for adaptive strategies and policy measures to address the long-term challenges associated with declining water availability. The study underscores the importance of proactive planning and integrated resource management to enhance resilience against the effects of aridification.
MSU Associate Vice President and Professor Narcisa Pricope (second row, center in white coat) led an international team of scientists in a study on aridification, recently published in Nature Water. The group presented their findings recently at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Conference of the Parties (COP) 16 Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Image Credit: Mississippi State University
Over time, a global trend toward drier conditions, referred to as aridification, is impacting ecosystems and human activities. This trend currently affects 40 % of Earth's land and 2.3 billion people, with significant consequences for water resources and agriculture, particularly in the United States.
The Great Plains, often described as a major agricultural region, and California's Central Valley are facing challenges in determining crop selection, irrigation practices, and long-term water management strategies.
Professor Narcisa Pricope, Associate Vice President of Mississippi State University, led the study, which involved scientists from various countries.
Mississippi State is leading the way in tackling global challenges with research that delivers real-world impact. Dr. Pricope’s work exemplifies how our scientists are connecting international science with practical solutions that shape policies and practices to strengthen resilience across the globe.
Julie Jordan, Vice President, Research and Economic Development, Mississippi State University
The research was presented at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, a platform for discussions between science and policy. During the event, Pricope and her team contributed to the development of international strategies focused on addressing the long-term decline in water availability, beyond short-term droughts.
This research has real implications for Mississippi. When our lands dry out, it is not just farmers who suffer. Water becomes harder to manage, ecosystems get stressed, and rural communities already stretched thin face even greater challenges.
Narcisa Pricope, Professor and Associate Vice President, Mississippi State University
The team's work highlights several solutions, including more efficient irrigation techniques, enhanced data analytics for monitoring, drought-resistant crop cultivation, and land restoration to improve water retention and reduce long-term risks. These measures are aimed at helping Mississippi and the United States address future challenges.
They emphasize proactive planning over reactive responses, advocating for the integration of farming support, land restoration, and water management into a coordinated strategy.
Pricope said, “Aridification is not just a global issue with little bearing for our lives in Mississippi and the USA. We need to act now to protect our farms, forests, and families.”
Journal Reference:
Pricope, N. G., et al. (2025). Increasing aridification calls for urgent global adaptive solutions and policy action. Nature Water. doi.org/10.1038/s44221-025-00432-9.