New report by House of Lords finds nitrogen pollution impact to be ‘dangerous and deadly’ as inefficient use brings high costs to farmers and the environment
A new report and inquiry by the House of Lords has called for a national nitrogen strategy to reduce pollution and encourage more efficient usage
The report, carried out by the Environment and Climate Change Committee and published yesterday (24 July), found that nitrogen pollution has a “dangerous and deadly” impact on public health, nature, climate change and the farming economy, and highlights how the issue has largely been ignored by governments.
The inquiry heard from a wide range of witnesses, including the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).
Farming minister Daniel Zeichner and his water counterpart, Emma Hardy, spoke to committee members about how to bring together siloed policy and help turn nitrogen waste from livestock, wastewater and households into renewable fertilisers for farmers.
The findings have been welcomed by the Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance (SNA), a group of farmers, health, nature and climate organisations, which wants the same attention given to nitrogen pollution as has been received by sewage in recent years.
The group’s convenor Ellie Roxburgh said: We’re delighted to see the call for a national nitrogen strategy underpinned by a balance sheet that maps all routes of nitrogen usage, waste and pollution, which the SNA has long been calling for.”
In addition to its pollutant impact, the price, availability and efficiency of nitrogen use is a significant cost to farmers and growers.
Organic farmer Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association said: “We’re always scavenging for nitrogen, and we can’t afford to lose any of it into the environment.
“Developing a system where you really want to look after your nitrogen and where you see it as gold dust – your manures as a valuable resource rather than something that has to be disposed of – actually instils a completely different mindset. It is in your farming interest too to get this right for the environment.”
On average, only about half of the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser applied to crops is taken up and used by the plants, according to the SNA.
As well as nitrogen fertiliser leading to emissions of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, once it is applied to soils, runoff into waterways causes significant harm to aquatic life. Agriculture is estimated to contribute around three quarters of the UK’s nitrogen emissio
