WG4 Webinar – No Land Without Old People: Social Inclusion in Changing Salinized Landscapes

We are pleased to share that the fourth session of the COST Action SUSTAIN Webinar Series, organized by Working Group 4 (WG4), was successfully held on September 4, 2025. This webinar, titled No Land Without Old People: Social Inclusion in Changing Salinized Landscapes, highlighted the importance of intergenerational knowledge and community engagement in adapting to the challenges of soil salinization.

🗓 Date: September 4, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00–11:00 CET
🎥 Missed the webinar? Watch the full recording here:
https://youtu.be/jh8yy4AtrbQ

Moderator: The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Sylwia Timoszuk (SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Institute of Statistics and Demography).

Introduction

Soil salinization is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, tangibly impacting the lives of millions. It reshapes landscapes, threatens food security, and forces entire communities to adapt. But in our discussions on technology and survival strategies, are we missing a key element—the human experience?

We invite you to a unique online webinar where we will look at the issue of salinity from a new perspective. We will focus on the quiet yet fundamental role of older farmers and residents of salinized areas. They are the guardians of multi-generational knowledge, the observers of slow-moving changes, and the pillars of their local communities. Their experience is an invaluable asset in building resilience to climate change.

Goal and Invitation to Discuss

Our speakers’ presentations are not traditional research reports but rather inspiring collections of field observations from Pakistan and Egypt. We intend for these insights to be a starting point for an open and collaborative discussion. Our goal is to initiate a dialogue between scientists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and farmers about the challenges and opportunities facing communities in salinized landscapes.

Join the conversation! Together, let’s seek answers to key questions:

  • How can we build bridges between generations to ensure knowledge transfer and strengthen the resilience of local communities?
  • What are the barriers and opportunities for implementing new technologies, such as hydroponics, on farms run by farmers of different ages?
  • How can we ensure that the voices and needs of older community members are heard and considered in decision-making processes concerning the future of their regions?
  • What role can external actors—from NGOs to businesses—play in the adaptation process?

Speakers and Presentations:

🎤 Speaker 1:
Dr. Sandra Heaney-Mustafa
Senior Lecturer – Community Education, Faculty of Education, University of Canberra

Presentation Title:
Engaging All Voices: Community-led Adaptation and the Value of Experience

Abstract:
To effectively address environmental challenges like soil salinity, we must bridge the gap between researchers and farmers. This presentation introduces ‘Community-led Stakeholder Engagement for Adaptive Livelihoods’ (CoSEAL), an innovative methodology from Pakistan co-designed by all stakeholders – from farmers to policymakers. We will explore how this approach moves beyond top-down models to foster genuine co-learning and co-production of knowledge. The success of CoSEAL lies in its inclusive nature, empowering all community members – women and men, young and old – to become equal partners in learning and teaching. The talk will touch upon how this dynamic works in practice, offering observations on the integral role of experienced, often older, farmers in facilitating these processes.

🎤 Speaker 2:
Dr. Bastiaan Bruning
The Salt Doctors

Presentation Title:
Adapting to Salinity with Hydroponics: Challenges and Opportunities for Egyptian Farmers

Abstract:
To help farmers in Egypt’s Nile Delta adapt to salinity, we introduced open-field hydroponics systems. This presentation will use the experiences of two farmers – one younger and one older – as a practical example and starting point for discussion. From there, it will explore the broader challenges and opportunities in adopting such a novel technology in the region. The talk will touch upon potential barriers to adoption and highlight key benefits, such as increased yields and a significant reduction in physical labour, to assess the overall readiness for hydroponics as a practical adaptation strategy.

About the Speakers and Moderator

Dr. Sandra Heaney-Mustafa: Sandra has an extensive background in nursing and in primary health care indeveloping countries as a nurse-midwife, health educator, and community development worker. She has spent 16 years working on Australian Council of International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded projects in Pakistan, collaborating with farming communities to increase livelihoods, enhance production, and adapt to living in saline-affected environments.

Dr. Bastiaan Bruning: Bas Bruning is a researcher specializing in saline agriculture, with a strong background in biology and ecology. His research has focused on the potential of salt-tolerant crops for sustainable agriculture in saline environments, leading to multiple scientific publications. His work includes international salinity assessments, developing scalable solutions for farmers in affected regions, and knowledge-sharing in diverse environments, including Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Vietnam, and Cuba.

Dr. Sylwia Timoszuk (Moderator): Dr. Timoszuk is an Assistant Professor at the Demography Unit of the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. She is a gerontologist, demographer, and economist by training, as well as a graduate of the prestigious European School of Demography. Her research focuses on the demographic and social aspects of population aging, with a particular interest in the living and financial situation of older adults, their economic well-being, and widowhood.

We thank our moderator, speakers, and all participants for their contributions to this engaging session. Stay tuned for the upcoming WG6 webinar in the series, scheduled for September 22, 2025.