The report “Less, better and circular use – how to get rid of surplus nitrogen without endangering food security” by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL shows that the dependency of our food system on fossil fuel-based fertilizers led to a devastating impact on the environment, while 85 to 95 per cent of fertilizers applied to the soil is lost and does not make it to us as food.

The key findings of the report include:

The excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers has severe environmental consequences, including biodiversity loss, soil and freshwater degradation, and substantial greenhouse gas emissions. 

85 to 95 per cent of nitrogen applied to soil is lost and does not make it to us as food. The current annual nitrogen surplus is double the amount compatible with the planetary boundaries for a safe operating space for humanity, and overall nitrogen use efficiency in food systems is only 5 to 15 per cent, indicating huge losses.

Food security is possible with less nitrogen: with massive overuse and low use efficiency, much nitrogen can be spared without reducing yields. With nitrogen scarcity and soil mining, recycling should be increased before and besides adding new external nitrogen. 

For solutions, we need credible industry business plans for a future with 50 per cent less nitrogen; we need credible commitment from governments to full cost accounting; we need credible signals from agriculture, the food sector and society for mutual support. And we need this now.

During the 20th century, the Haber Bosch process allowed for the large-scale production of mineral fertilizers and made nitrogen widely available for crop growth. This helped to increase the number of individuals sustained per hectare of arable land from 2 to almost 4.5 people. Introducing mineral fertilizers reduced the reliance on biological nitrogen fixation and competition for land between food production and nitrogen-fixing crops.

However, the use of mineral fertilizers has led to the dependency of our food system on fossil fuels. As the Haber Bosch process is energy-intensive, approximately 1-2 per cent of the world's energy is currently allocated to fertilizer production, with about 95 per cent of that energy being used for nitrogen-based fertilizers. The supply chain of mineral fertilizers results in significant greenhouse gas emissions, which account for about 10 per cent of agricultural and 2 per cent of global emissions.

The report, titled “Less, better, and circular use – how to get rid of surplus nitrogen without endangering food security”, explains that the current annual nitrogen surplus is double the amount that is safe for the planet. And overall, nitrogen use efficiency in food systems is only 5 to 15 per cent, indicating huge losses to the environment.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants. However, too much nitrogen can lead to water pollution, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. It can also reduce biodiversity and harm human health.

The report’s authors emphasize that food security is possible with less nitrogen. With huge overuse and low use efficiency, much nitrogen can be spared without reducing yields.

Not all the regions of the world are the same, though. While high-income countries with intensive agriculture show huge regional nitrogen surpluses and losses, in many lower-income countries, particularly in Africa, lack of access to nitrogen leads to soil nitrogen mining and degradation. There, nitrogen use reduction is not central, but besides just adding new external nitrogen, recycling should be increased.

"The solutions are known. Use nitrogen better, use it circularly, and use less,” said Adrian Muller, lead author of the report".