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Sustainable nitrogen management in agrifood systems

This report provides a comprehensive overview of nitrogen use and the resulting challenges in agrifood systems, which is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The report Sustainable nitrogen management in agrifood systems, launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in January 2025, emphasises the importance of ensuring sustainable use of nitrogen and offers recommendations to achieve this goal.

Nitrogen is an essential component of food constituents, particularly amino acids and proteins required for the growth of plants, animals and humans. The rise in nitrogen fertilisers over the past century has significantly contributed to enhancing agricultural production and bolstering food security and nutrition for an expanding global population. Nevertheless, improper use of nitrogen can severely damage air, water and soil quality, result in biodiversity loss and exacerbate climate change.

Livestock are the main contributors to nitrogen emissions and are responsible for about one-third of the total nitrogen emissions produced by human activity. Synthetic fertilisers, land-use change and manure emissions are the main causes of nitrogen pollution in this area.

"Sustainable nitrogen management is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, particularly those related to hunger, health, clean water, sustainable production and consumption, climate action, and preserving life on land and underwater," the report's authors say. "Improving nitrogen use efficiency across the agri-food chain and reducing nitrogen loss can help increase food production in low- and middle-income countries by allowing more nitrogen resources to achieve their intended purpose, improve health by reducing harmful emissions, and protect water bodies from pollution."

The report presents several case studies illustrating ongoing efforts to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) around the world and offers a series of recommendations.

(FAO/ile)

Read more and download the report on the FAO website

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