The 2026 International Saline-Alkali Land Agriculture Conference was held from October 20 to 23 in Dongying, Shandong province. The event was organized by the National Technology Innovation Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land and the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It was co-organized by the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), among other institutions. Liu Xianwu, vice president of CAAS, attended the conference and delivered a speech.

The conference recognized that China is among the countries most severely affected by soil salinization globally and it was also a steadfast practitioner in the reclamation of saline-alkali lands. It emphasized the importance of strengthening communication and cooperation, jointly building innovation platforms, advancing shared outcomes, and nurturing young talent,  toadvance the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali land as a strategic priority.

Under the theme "Sustainable Use of Saline-Alkali Land for Global Food Security", the conference held in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge technologies, innovative practice models, and supporting policies. It also showcased achievements in varieties, technologies, equipment, and models. The conference released the 2026 Saline-Alkali Land Comprehensive Utilization Technology Development Report and proposed the "Saline Soil to Fertile Farmland Initiative" to promote global saline-alkali agriculture development.

Notable attendees included Academicians Kang Shaozhong, Cao Xiaofeng, Yu Jingquan, Xu Minggang, and Wang Lichun, along with Nora Berrahmouni, deputy director of the Land and Water Division of the FAO. Also participating on site were over 600 experts, scholars, business representatives, and international organization delegates from 21 countries and organizations.