Sustainable nitrogen management in agrifood systems

FAO

Sustainable nitrogen management in agrifood systems

Report brief

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) The FAO report "Sustainable Nitrogen Management in Agrifood Systems" provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities related to nitrogen use in agrifood systems. The report explores solutions to enhance nitrogen use efficiency in crop and animal production and elaborates on the magnitude, sources, and pathways of nitrogen flows and losses, and associated environmental impacts such as eutrophication, acidification and biodiversity loss. The report suggests sector-specific approaches to enhance nutrient use efficiency, including the adoption of circular bioeconomy practices, and policy recommendations to promote sustainable nitrogen management. This in brief version summarizes the main messages, key actions and policy options for sustainable nitrogen management in agrifood systems.

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Language English

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Nitrogen is an essential element in the natural environment, forming critical compounds necessary for all living organisms. As it cycles through air, soil, and water, nitrogen is fundamental to ecosystem functionality. However, improper management of nitrogen in agrifood systems can degrade air, water, and soil quality, while excessive extraction from soils leads to soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and exacerbation of climate change. This FAO report provides a comprehensive overview of nitrogen's role, and the challenges associated with its use in agrifood systems. It explores solutions for improving nitrogen management in crop and livestock systems to enhance nitrogen use efficiency while reducing pollution. Additionally, it highlights the potential of circular bioeconomy approaches to optimize nitrogen management and minimize nitrogen losses. By adopting balanced nitrogen practices, agrifood systems can be transformed to ensure food security, improved nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods for farmers while minimizing negative environmental impacts.
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Transforming agrifood systems is key to meeting the growing global food demand while reducing agriculture’s environmental impact. Environmental inhibitors can help reduce methane emissions from farming sectors like livestock and rice cultivation, and the loss of nitrogen from farmlands. While not yet in widespread use, methanogenesis inhibitors, nitrification inhibitors and urease inhibitors, are being explored for their capacity to both increase nitrogen use efficiency and reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change.Although various environmental inhibitors are currently in development, with some already in use across markets, potential food safety risks from residues in food products have not always been fully addressed. This publication proposes a food safety risk assessment process for environmental inhibitors addressing potential residue uptake and transfer into crops intended for human consumption and foods of animal origin.