Recent sightings of the scrub-covered banks in Venice’s hinterland echo the faint wail of farmers’ three-wheeled trucks, suggesting a landscape under pressure. This could be the crucial step to maintain agricultural productivity in a world with rising sea levels.
Halophytes that thrive in salt water
This plant belongs to a group of incredible organisms known as halophytes, a species that can thrive in salt water.
They are found in the interstitial spaces of coastlines, salt marshes and lagoon margins. These plants are increasingly important to both coastal ecosystems and modern cuisine.
According to The Guardian, Once known as the breadbasket of Venice, the island of Sant Erasmo is now home to farmers facing a challenge that will soon become common in coastal marshes worldwide.
Meanwhile, the thermal expansion of the ocean, the increase in average temperatures and prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall lead to an increase in the concentration of salts in the soil.
An environmental expert from the Tidal Garden has explored the edible potential of halophytes as a tool for climate change adaptation, noting: “Venice is the perfect playground because you have a very interesting and nuanced environment that has been inhabited, changed and transformed by humans for centuries.”
Planting halophytes on adjacent fields
A team of researchers using halophytes have set out to address this problem, as they found that double-cropping and rotating tomatoes and samphire led to a more nutritious and abundant yield.
The researchers foresee planting halophytes on the tracks and fallow lands adjacent to farmers’ fields.
They believe that this ecological approach will mitigate the impact of fertilizer run-off, which currently affects the seasonal availability of the lagoon’s supply.
The uncertainty surrounding halophytes stems from a suspicion of their weedy capacity for resilience and their ability to thrive in difficult environments.
In Venice, the Tidal Garden has recruited chefs, artists and poets to boost commercial demand for halophytes.
Asciano, who has a keen insight into the local landscape, argues that planting these species and fallow borders add economic value without farmers having to sacrifice land dedicated to traditional cash crops.
For Ascani, halophytes provide an essential link between his customers and the lagoon, creating a deeper appreciation for the land’s bounty, however unpredictable it may be.
Challenges remain in changing consumer habits and scaling up industrial processing. These salt-tolerant plants offer a truly sustainable path to saving coastal agriculture.
