A new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), launched in January 2025, provides a comprehensive overview of nitrogen use and the resulting challenges in agrifood systems. It emphasizes the importance of ensuring sustainable use and offers recommendations to achieve this goal.
- Importance of Nitrogen:
- Nitrogen is vital for plant, animal, and human growth, forming essential components of amino acids and proteins.
- The Haber-Bosch process has enabled humans to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for fertilizer use, dramatically increasing agricultural productivity.
- Challenges with Nitrogen Use:
- Improper nitrogen application damages air, water, and soil quality, leading to biodiversity loss and climate change.
- Excessive nitrogen contributes to global warming, air and water pollution, and ozone depletion.
- Livestock, synthetic fertilizers, and land-use changes are major contributors to nitrogen pollution.
- Global Trends:
- Humans add about 150 teragrams (Tg) of reactive nitrogen annually, more than double the pre-industrial rate.
- Projections suggest this could rise to 600 Tg per year by 2100 due to climate change and increased demand.
- Severe nitrogen pollution is evident in North America, Western Europe, and parts of Asia, while some low- and middle-income countries suffer nitrogen depletion due to limited fertilizer access.
- Impact on Human Health and Environment:
- Nitrogen pollution increases the risk of respiratory and heart diseases.
- It contributes to the degradation of ecosystems and intensifies climate change effects.
- Recommendations and Progress:
- Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is essential to reduce nitrogen losses and pollution.
- Judicious nitrogen use prevents soil degradation and nutrient depletion while boosting crop yields.
- The FAO report offers detailed strategies to enhance NUE and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
(Source: FAO)
