Unveiling the potential for an efficient use of nitrogen along the food supply and consumption chain.

ABSTRACT: Ensuring global food security is one of the challenges of our society. Nitrogen availability is key for food production, while contributing to different environmental impacts. This paper aims firstly to assess nitrogen flows and to highlight hotspots of inefficient use of nitrogen along the European food chain, excluding primary production. Secondly, it aims to analyse the potential for reducing the identified inefficiencies and increase nitrogen circularity. A baseline and three scenarios-reflecting waste targets reported in EU legislation and technological improvements- are analysed. Results highlighted a potential to reduce reactive nitrogen emissions up to more than 45%. However, this would imply the conversion of reactive nitrogen in molecular nitrogen, such as urea, before re-enterin

SUBMITTER: Corrado S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7299078 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature