Billen, Gilles; Aguilera, Eduardo; Einarsson, Rasmus; Garnier, Josette; Gingrich, Simone; Grizetti, Bruna; Lassaletta, Luis; Le Noë, Julia and Sanz-Cobena, Alberto (2021) Reshaping the European agro-food system and closing its nitrogen cycle: The potential of combining dietary change, agroecology, and circularity. One Earth, 4 (6), pp. 839-850.
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Document available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259033222100289X
Summary in the original language of the document
After World War II, the evolution of Europe's agro-food system has been marked by intensified use of synthetic fertilizers, territorial specialization, and integration in global food and feed markets. This evolution led to increased nitrogen (N) losses to aquatic environments and the atmosphere, which, despite increasing environmental regulations, continues to harm ecosystems and human well-being. Here, we explore how these N losses can be drastically reduced in a scenario synergistically operating three levers: (1) a dietary change toward less animal products and an efficient recycling of human excreta; (2) the generalization of region-specific organic crop rotation systems involving N2-fixing legumes, making it possible to do without synthetic N fertilizers; and (3) the reconnection of livestock with cropping systems allowing optimal use of manure. This scenario demonstrates the possibility to feed the projected European population in 2050 without imports of feed and with half the current level of environmental N losses.
EPrint Type: | Journal paper |
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Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English agroecology http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_92381 English dietary history assessment http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_9caf350a English nitrogen cycle http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_27938 |
Subjects: | Values, standards and certification > Assessment of impacts and risks Values, standards and certification > Consumer issues "Organics" in general > History of organics |
Research affiliation: | European Union > Horizon Europe > OrganicTargets4EU > External publications |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.oneear.2021.05.008 |
Deposited By: | Drue, Frederik |
ID Code: | 54124 |
Deposited On: | 02 Oct 2024 13:07 |
Last Modified: | 02 Oct 2024 13:07 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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