Smart Net-Zero

September 28, 2023 | Communications Earth & Environment |  

Introduction: Producing enough food for a growing global population while reducing environmental pollution and climate impact is a major challenge. From simulating global cereal cropping systems, the researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany proposed a strategy of optimizing fertilizer application across global croplands of major cereal crops such as maize, wheat, and rice. 

 Key findings: The current cereal production levels could be maintained with a 32% reduction in total global fertilizer use. Alternatively, cereal production could be increased by 15% with current nitrogen fertilizer levels. This redistribution approach not only ensures food production but also leads to substantial reductions in nitrogen pollution. Moreover, a more equitable distribution of nitrogen fertilizer across global croplands could reduce pollution on in heavily fertilized regions such as East Asia, and allow areas like Sub-Saharan Africa to move towards self-sufficiency.

 Read more: A redistribution of nitrogen fertiliser across global croplands can help achieve food security within environmental boundaries

Fig. | Regional changes in cereal yield, N-fertiliser usage, N2O emissions and NO3− leaching. Changes are shown relative to the baseline scenario.