7th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference 2016
By Kirsten Davey
While carbon pollution gets all the headlines for its role in climate change, nitrogen pollution is arguably a more challenging problem. Somehow we need to grow more food to feed an expanding population while minimising the problems associated with nitrogen fertiliser use.
This week
nitrogen experts from around the world gathered in Melbourne to share their
expertise of and address the challenges associated with its sustainable use in agriculture.
The 7th International Nitrogen Initiative Conference attracted attendees from 44 countries across Asia,
Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Australia. Including strong representation
from ACIAR projects undertaking research into nitrogen use I the developing world.
Dr Cameron Gourley from Agriculture Victoria and Secretary
of the International Nitrogen Initiative Conference explained to me that ‘nitrogen
is essential for global and local food production and economic development.
This kind of international collaboration is critical for us to find the right
balance between food security well as taking responsibility for our
environmental footprint.’
In Europe alone, the
environmental and human health costs of nitrogen pollution is estimated to be
€70-320 billion per year.
Region-specific research is
necessary to improve soil health by recalling that nitrogen uptake by plants
can be enhanced when it is balanced by other essential nutrients, sufficient
soil organic matter.
Nitrogen is the nutrient most often deficient for crop production in
developing countries and its efficient use can result in substantial economic
return for farmers, resulting in increased food security. However, when
nitrogen inputs to the soil system exceed crop needs, there is a possibility
that excessive amounts of nitrate (NO3--N) may enter
either ground or surface water. This can have long term damaging impacts on the
environment, specifically waterways.
Managing nitrogen inputs to achieve a balance between profitable crop
production and environmentally tolerable and sustainable levels of nitrate (NO3—N)
in water supplies should be every farmer’s goal. The behavior of nitrogen (N)
in the soil system is complex, yet an understanding of how human and
environmental interventions result in varying levels of nitrogen in the
environment is essential for guiding and supporting small holder farmers and
the agricultural sectors in developing countries in which we work.
One
of ACIAR’s research projects in Myanmar which was well represented at the
conference was SMCN/2014/044: Management of nutrients for
improved profitability and sustainability of crop production in Central Myanmar, with researchers from Myanmar and
Australian presenting and attending.
Myanmar,
like other countries in Asia, has made great efforts to intensify the
production of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
to feed a rapidly growing population. It is widely recognised that the
underperformance of rice crops in Myanmar is closely related to the inadequate
supply of nutrients, particularly nitrogen.
Most of
these efforts have been concentrated on lowland paddy fields with irrigated
double rice cropping systems. Nitrogen (N) rates applied by Myanmar farmers are
generally low and do not consider economic aspects.
Mineral
nutrient management is crucial to boost rice production as nitrogen (N) is the
most limiting nutrient. There is substantial potential to raise rice production
by increased use of nitrogen (N) fertiliser, which will increase regional
demand for fertilisers and the supply of rice in the international market in
the near future. At this pivotal time in Myanmar’s development, this ACIAR
project is working with researchers at the Yezin Agricultural University
and the Department of Agriculture
in Myanmar to expose the
biophysical and socio-economic factors that lead to financially and
environmentally viable intensification of rice production based largely reliant
on nitrogen (N) fertilisation.
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This
is the embedded link of the video: https://youtu.be/Q5Q4AJPM-Nk
Another ACIAR
project with strong representation is the conference was SMCN/2010/083: Improving the sustainability of rice-shrimp farming systems in the Mekong
Delta, Vietnam.
Rice-shrimp farming has become increasingly difficult in
parts of the Mekong due to increasing soil and water salinity. This ACIAR
research project has investigated risk factors for rice-shrimp farming,
described pond and rice field processes, and generated much needed environmental
and farm management data-using stable isotope analysis to develop a better
understanding of the contributions of rice and shrimp to the production system
by describing nutrient pathways.
Of great interest was the research data which demonstrated that
the rice-farming system in the Mekong Delta already has high nitrogen
concentrations and adequate phosphorus. This system does not require fertiliser.
This means farmers can increase the profitability of the farming system by
reducing or eliminating fertiliser. A challenge not commonly faced by other
developing countries in our region.
The project is
now looking at how to disseminate information and training programs on better
farming practices to government extension staff and policy makers, and for lead
farmers and farming groups. This aims to ensure that there will be adoption of
better management strategies to improve productivity and sustainability of
rice-shrimp farming systems, and lead to opportunities to increase farmers’
incomes and food security.
There
was also global collaboration on an innovative tool was highlighted at the
conference. The N-footprint tool allows individuals and institutions to calculate and
reduce their nitrogen footprints. Despite its ‘clean and green’
image, Australia has the largest N footprint both in food and energy sectors
among all countries that have used the N-Calculator model. Beef consumption and
production is the major contributor of the high food N footprint, while the
heavy dependence on coal for electricity explains the large energy N footprint.
There
was a piece published earlier in the week on The Conversation, Nitrogen pollution: the
forgotten element of climate change, co-authored by ACIAR’s RPM,
Rob Edis and the University of Melbourne soil science team. This explains the
complexities of the issue of nitrogen use and pollution in the context of the
conference.
A
global outcome of the conference was allocation by the United Nations
Environmental Program and the Global Environment Facility for a global advisory
platform on sustainable nitrogen use, the ‘International Nitrogen Management
System’ (INMS). This USD $60 million is a
first for the world in
terms of agreement and support for responsible nitrogen use. The agreement aims to
spearhead integrated management of the nitrogen cycle for clean water and air,
reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and better soil and biodiversity protection.
Professor Mark Sutton, from the Centre of Ecology and
Hydrology and Chair of the International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) said,
‘Nitrogen pollution represents a huge waste of a valuable resource. In the EU
alone, the fertilizer value of nitrogen losses from agriculture is around Euro
14 billion per year. This is equivalent to losing 25 per cent of the European
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget (or 10 per cent of the entire EU
budget) up in smoke or down the drain.’
International events such as these, where Australian and
international researchers can share their knowledge and expertise generate
positive results of increased awareness of global food security, climate change
and associated environmental challenges of nitrogen use.
The conference went into
great detail on aacknowledging the great benefit of reactive nitrogen
to increase agricultural productivity and feed the fast growing world
population, as well as acknowledging the strong tie between food
production and population growth that speaks to the need to increase food
access for the poorest sectors of the globe. Most importantly was the
affirmation that we are all part of the problem and also part of the solution,
and that optimising nitrogen management requires engagement across all of
society, from farmers and energy providers to consumers.
ACIAR has published a number of research publications on
nitrogen and its use in the agricultural sector.
Water and nitrogen management in wheat-maize production on the North China Plain
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