More evidence and better communication are needed to get the issue onto the global sustainable development agenda, a UN conference hears.

Attempts to limit desert growth are being held back by a lack of accessible data on land degradation, a UN conference has heard.

Climate change will make some parts of Saudi Arabia hotter and drier, with other parts seeing increased surface run-off, say scientists.

Researchers in Algeria and Malaysia have developed new bricks made of sand and waste materials, making them cheap and eco-friendly.

A coated cotton material that absorbs moisture from fogs and releases water as it warms could improve freshwater collection in arid areas.

Scientists in the Middle East have identified soil microbes that could help make desert agriculture more resistant to salinity and drought.

Agricultural research must be moved to the heart of efforts to limit climate change's impacts on those living in dry areas, says a report.

Five years ago DESERTEC was touted as the desert miracle answer to Europe's energy needs, but its future is looking increasingly rocky.

A study of woody vegetation in Latin America finds that parts of the region have experienced significant reforestation, despite general deforestation trends.

The discovery of a major aquifer in northern Namibia holds promise for a water-starved region, but more research is needed, experts say.

Scientists in Egypt claim breeding poultry in the desert, rather than in more built-up areas, could reduce the spread of avian flu.

Africa, Brazil and France are coming together to tackle desertification, and have presented their first concrete actions at Rio+20 this week.

The CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers has officially launched its 15 research programmes at Rio+20.

The new CEO of the CGIAR Consortium of Agricultural Research Centres has prioritised action on the organisation's reform programme.

A three-year national experiment to improve Egyptian crop yields has achieved a 30 per cent productivity increase in its first year.

A UNESCO remote sensing project to identify underground water in areas hit by drought has started in a region of the Horn of Africa.

Africa's newly revealed groundwater may not be easy to tap into because of political and technical challenges, experts warn.

Planet Under Pressure speakers said developing countries should be included in decisions about climate change technology 'fixes'.

An international commission of senior scientists has launched a charter for action on food security for different sectors of society.