Optimizing Reactive Nitrogen Use for Sustainable Agriculture

The dietary needs and changing preferences of a growing population are increasing demands on global agriculture. Because the area for agriculture is limited, yields must rise on land that is already cultivated. This will require both greater amounts of crop nutrients and more efficient use of them, including nitrogen fertilizers. In the short term, wider dissemination of best management practices is needed in order to achieve greater output without increasing unwanted environmental impacts related to nitrogen lost from agriculture. In the longer term, additional research is needed to develop innovative means to meet conflicting demands for ever greater agricultural outputs and ever fewer unwanted impacts. Because of its role as the primary supplier of nitrogen and other crop nutrients, the fertilizer industry is at the centre of these efforts.