Efficient use of nitrogen fertilizers saves $170 billion

Using nitrogen fertilizers more efficiently could reduce consumption of the product by up to 20 million tons, saving $170 billion a year and helping to protect the environment.

This is the conclusion of a group of scientists who participated in writing the report, commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), published on February 18.

The report says that the global cost of nitrogen fertilizer pollution alone is $800 billion a year. Improving the efficiency of this fertilizer use would not only save money, but also contribute to environmental, climate and human health protections, and help address food and energy security concerns.

The report calls for regulations on fertilizer use to be included in the 1995 UNEP Agreement to prevent marine environmental degradation caused by land-based activities.

The report also calls for improved management of soil, crops, livestock and fertilizers; reduced chemical waste in industry, in wastewater treatment and increased rates of nutrient reuse for crops.

Individuals and governments in places with high rates of meat and dairy consumption and waste should consider ways to reduce their consumption of these products, the report says.

Nitrogen, phosphorus and several other nutrients are essential for plant growth and have long been used to meet global food and energy needs.

However, excessive or improper use of fertilizers is the cause of increased greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, water pollution, soil erosion and destruction of ecosystems.

Currently, the use of nutrients for crops is ineffective, more than 80% of nitrogen and 25-75% of phosphorus used are wasted in the environment and the energy used to produce these fertilizers is also wasted./.

According to (TTXVN) - VT