Nitrogen plays a pivotal role in agriculture, ensuring a stable food supply. Nitrogen is essential for plant, animal, and human growth. The invention of the Haber-Bosch process has made nitrogen fertilizers widely available. This has allowed farmers to boost crop yields and feed a growing population.
But human activities now release around 150 teragrams (Tg) of reactive nitrogen into the environment every year. This is more than double the pre-industrial amount. By 2100, some estimates suggest this could increase to 600 Tg per year.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF NITROGEN MISMANAGEMENT
While nitrogen is vital for plant growth, overusing it comes with significant risks. The excessive release of nitrogen damages soil, water, and air quality. It also disrupts biodiversity.
Key sources of nitrogen emissions include:
- Livestock farming: Responsible for one-third of nitrogen emissions.
- Synthetic fertilizers: Their overuse leaks nitrogen into the environment.
- Land-use changes: They contribute to nitrogen loss and ecosystem degradation.
GLOBAL NITROGEN CRISIS
The FAO report highlights the regional disparities in nitrogen use.
- In high-income countries like North America and Europe, overuse of fertilizers leads to nitrogen pollution.
- In low- and middle-income nations, limited access to fertilizers causes nitrogen depletion, leading to soil degradation and reduced crop yields.
HUMAN AND CLIMATE HEALTH RISKS
Nitrogen pollution worsens climate change and damages the ozone layer. It also threatens human health by increasing the prevalence of respiratory and heart diseases. To protect health and the environment, improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is crucial.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE NITROGEN USE
The FAO proposes several solutions to enhance nitrogen management and reduce its negative environmental impact.
For the Fertilizer Industry
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer production.
- Minimize nitrogen losses during storage and application.
For National Governments
- Promote biological nitrogen fixation using leguminous crops like soybeans and alfalfa.
- Create manure management guidelines to reduce nitrogen loss and boost agricultural productivity.
- Encourage the use of organic nitrogen fertilizers and sustainable practices like spatial livestock redistribution.
- Integrate nitrogen management into climate action policies, focusing on reducing nitrous oxide emissions.
For the Agrifood Sector
- Reduce food waste and use inedible food as livestock feed.
- Invest in low-emission fertilizers and efficient recycling systems.
- Support the circular bioeconomy to improve sustainability.
CALL FOR GLOBAL ACTION
The FAO stresses that sustainable nitrogen management is essential for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Efficient nitrogen use can boost food production, reduce pollution, and protect ecosystems, benefiting both public health and the environment.
“Improving nitrogen efficiency can help low-income countries increase crop yields. It can reduce harmful emissions. It also protects water sources,” the report’s authors explain.