A century of rising nitrogen fertilizer use has fueled global food production, ensuring nutrition for billions. But the same agricultural progress has unleashed a cascade of environmental hazards, from water contamination and biodiversity loss to climate change and human health risks. A new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), launched in Rome, underscores the urgent need for sustainable nitrogen management in agrifood systems.
Nitrogen is an essential element in plant growth, forming the backbone of proteins and amino acids. The 20th-century development of the Haber–Bosch process, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, revolutionized agriculture. Today, humans add around 150 teragrams of reactive nitrogen to the Earth’s surface annually—more than twice pre-industrial levels. Without intervention, this figure could quadruple by 2100, exacerbating nitrogen pollution worldwide.
The High Cost of Nitrogen Mismanagement
Livestock production accounts for a third of human-caused nitrogen emissions, with synthetic fertilizers, land-use changes, and manure mismanagement further compounding the problem. Regions with intensive agriculture, such as North America, Western Europe, and parts of Asia, suffer the most from nitrogen pollution. Conversely, in lower-income nations, limited fertilizer access leads to nitrogen depletion, degrading soils and undermining food security.
The FAO report stresses that improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is critical. “While some progress has been made, much remains to be done to reduce pollution and safeguard both human and environmental health,” said Thanawat Tiensin, FAO’s Assistant Director-General for Animal Production and Health.
To mitigate nitrogen’s adverse effects, the report outlines several key actions: reducing emissions from fertilizer production, promoting biological nitrogen fixation in crop rotations, enhancing manure management, and encouraging organic fertilizers. National policies should also integrate nitrogen reduction targets into climate commitments and biodiversity goals, while financial institutions must support investments in high-efficiency fertilizers and recycling systems.
“Sustainable nitrogen management is essential for achieving global food security and climate targets,” the report concludes. By refining nitrogen use, countries can boost crop yields in undernourished regions, protect ecosystems, and cut harmful emissions—ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.
