Nitrogen in agri-food systems and the environment: Next steps to a sustainable future
The widespread introduction of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilisers, post World War II in the 1950s, marked a historic turning point in the world's agricultural systems. The increased N supply contributed to rapidly increasing crop yields and increased global supply of feed and food. However, despite the undisputed benefit of the increase in food production, the large amounts of reactive nitrogen (Nr) introduced have had dire consequences for soils, surface and groundwater, atmosphere, and biodiversity (Einarsson, 2024; Erisman et al., 2008; Sutton et al., 2011). Indeed, in recent discourse, it is broadly agreed that agriculture and N supply in particular is at the origin of transgressions of ‘planetary boundaries’ and a major threat to the functioning of ecosystems (Rockström et al., 2009, Rockström et al., 2023; Schulte-Uebbing et al., 2022; Steffen et al., 2015).
Authors
Specifications
- Publication title
- Nitrogen in agri-food systems and the environment: Next steps to a sustainable future
- Publication date
- 15 October 2024
- Publication type
- Article
- Page count
- 4
- Publication language
- English
- Magazine
- science of the total environment
- Issue
- vol 947
- Product number
- 5810
