Less, better and circular use – how to get rid of surplus nitrogen without endangering food security

Summary

Key messages of the report "Less, better and circular use – how to get rid of surplus nitrogen without endangering food security"
1. The excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers has severe environmental consequences, including biodiversity loss, soil and freshwater degradation, and substantial greenhouse gas emissions.
2. The supply chain of mineral fertilizers results in huge greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 10% of agricultural and 2% of global emissions. Approximately 1-2% of the world's energy is allocated to fertilizer production, with about 95% of that energy being used for nitrogen-based fertilizers.
3. 85 to 95% of Nitrogen applied to soil is lost and does not make it to us as food. The current annual nitrogen surplus is double the amount compatible with the planetary boundaries for a safe operating space for humanity, and overall nitrogen use efficiency in food systems is only 5 to 15%, indicating huge losses.
4. High-income countries with intensive agriculture show huge regional nitrogen surpluses and losses. In contrast, in many lower-income countries, particularly in Africa, lack of access to Nitrogen leads to soil degradation.
5. Solutions are known. Use nitrogen better, use it circularly, and use less. Increase use efficiency, where much food is wasted and nutrients are used for animal feed rather than for human food. Recycle nitrogen, also from waste and human faeces and urine. Reduce, where too much is used.
6. Food security is possible with less nitrogen: with huge overuse and low use efficiency, much nitrogen can be spared without reducing yields. With nitrogen scarcity and soil mining, plot level use efficiency and recycling should be increased before adding new external nitrogen.
7.Using “green” mineral fertilizers with less production impacts will not solve the problem. The huge nitrogen surplus has the same adverse impacts in waterbodies, landscapes and ecosystems, irrespective of how the nitrogen has been produced.
8. The existing intergovernmental, national and industry-led initiatives to tackle the nitrogen problem are ineffective: those with ambitious goals lack power for implementation, those with implementation power lack ambition.
9. For solutions, we need credible business plans from industry for a future with 50% less nitrogen; we need credible commitment from governments to full cost accounting; we need credible signals from value chain players and society for mutual support.
On November 15 an online seminar took place, where the report was presented. Please find the link below.