Processes Controlling Biosphere Atmosphere Interactions of Ammonia
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Controlling environmental nitrogen: How can it be done? How will it reduce impacts? Mark Sutton TFRN EXPO Milan 10 July 2015 The innocent polluters The innocent polluters Feedlots with 100,000 cattle Chicken farms with 2,000,000 Global Nr production & dispersion Human Nr 60 Production: 30 10 -1 (Tg yr ) 9 8 1860: 15 7 1995: 156 6 5 2005: 191 4 3 2 2005 sources: 1 0.75 Haber Bosch: 120 0.5 Biol N fixn: 50 0.25 0.1 -2 -1 NOx emission: 40 AtmosphericAtmospheric Nr Nr deposition deposition (mg (mg N N m m-2yearyear-)1) 0 Galloway et al. Science (2008) Simplified view of the Nitrogen Cascade Greenhouse gas balance Stratospheric High temperature ozone loss combustion & industry Nitrous Oxide Tropospheric (N2O) ozone formation Urban air Particulate quality Matter Nitrogen oxides Ammonium nitrate (NOx) in rain (NH4NO3) Fertilizer manufacture Further emission Ammonia of NOx & N2O (NH ) carrying on Nr 3 the cascade Crop biological nitrogen fixation Crops for food & animal feed Eventual Intended denitrification N flow to N2 Terrestrial Eutrophication Livestock farming N in Unintended r for food Natural ecosystems N flows manure Soil acidification N form in Leached Nitrate Nitrate in streams, the cascade (NO -) 3 groundwater & Freshwater Eutrophication coastal seas Environmental concern from Nr Marine Eutrophication Five key threats The WAGES of too much nitrogen Water quality Air quality Greenhouse balance Ecosystems Soil quality Plus better food & energy supply European Nitrogen Assessment, 2011 Lichen: Cladonia uncialis Ammonia contributes substantially to particulate matter (PM) concentrations • Reduced visibility • Human heath impacts Castell’ Arquato, near Parma, Italy NH3 emission Nitrogen Damage Costs & Sources EU Damage cost: 70 - 320 billion € / year Nature 14 April 2011 EU benefit-cost ratios: NH3 & NOx mitigation UNECE Air Convention: Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen NH3 NOx Van Grinsven et al. TFRN Environ Sci. & Tech 2013 Ammonia Framework Code Lessons from the Edinburgh Workshop A. General consensus that it is doable. Range of measures; BAT included; voluntary approach B. Confusion over the term ‘code’ for some countries (=measures here are voluntary) C. Having a National Ammonia Code is mandatory (<10 of 25 signatory countries have done it) D. Framework Code a support for countries to make or update their National Ammonia Code EB adopted it Dec 2014 & now published (May 2015) If you were to only do ONE thing to reduce ammonia? Splash Plate Spreader - 1950s technology Trailing Hose Trailing Shoe Slot Injector The car and the exhaust pipe… NUE & crop-livestock integration • Match local priorities • Efficient livestock but large losses & point impacts? Accept mitigation responsibility of intensive farming • Inefficient livestock but lower area/based impacts? Opportunities for local solutions 18 Feb 2013: Independent , Guardian, Herald Tribune, Times of India and 300 articles worldwide Full Chain NUE Nutrient N,P Resource Crop NUEN,P NUE food crop 1 Food harvest NUE food N&P supply Fertilizer 9 Feeds HumansHumans & Biological harvest 6 Food Nitrogen Livestock Consumption production Fixation & Diet Choices NUE 2 animal NUE 1 feed 7 crop Manure & 3 NUE sewage sewage NUE manures 10 fertilizer products Spatial optimization & integration Unintended 4 Nr input by combustion 8 N fixation in Humans Energy combustion Consumption & Transport NOx capture NUE combustion 5 ONW & reuse Choices 2013 “20:20 for 2020” 20% better NUE: saving 20 Mt N per yr by 2020 N saving as kg N per ha per yr Benefits expressed here as N saving / ha per year (Full-chain NUE) Bottom line for the Green Nutrient Economy ($billion/year) Net Benefit 170= Fert Saving 23 + Env+Health 160 – Implementation 12 £650-a-year nitrogen pollution ‘could be reduced by eating less meat’ Press Comment on the European Nitrogen Assessment Metro 10 April 2011: • Halving EU meat & dairy intake would reduce N pollution by 40% • NUE of the food system increases from 22% to 44% Nitrogen on the Table Westhoek et al., 2014 Nitrogen and a Demitarian Europe? Example scenario of 50% consumption reduction Aspect Unit Reference -50% meat, dairy and eggs Protein Average daily intake g cap-1 day-1 83 75 Proportion of animal origin % 60% 36% Red meat Average daily intake g cap-1 day-1 88 47 Compared with the RMDI % 207% 107% Reference High prices Greening scenario scenario Environment -1 Total losses of Nr (EU) Gg year 6.5 4.1 3.8 (-42%) Losses of NH3 N to air 2.8 1.6 1.6 (-43%) Losses of Nr to water 3.3 2.1 2.0 (-39%) Losses of N2O N to air 0.4 0.3 0.2 (-45%) 4 -1 GHG emissions (EU) Tg CO2eq yr 464 347 268 (-42%) ( NUE5 food system (EU) % 22 47 41 (+86%) Agriculture Soy imports (as beans) Tg year-1 34 8 8 (-76%) Cereal exports Tg year-1 3 174 54 (+1700%) Additional production of bioenergy EJ year-1 - - 2.3 Nitrogen on the Table: Westhoek et al. Citizens Choices 40% How much; what mix? Technical Efficiency Recycling N (agriculture, resources food chain (manure, sewage combustion) Nitrogen NOx recycling, Circular 20% Economy 50% Improving Economy-wide Nitrogen Use Efficiency Nitrogen Resource Linking International Nitrogen Policy Frameworks Climate: UNFCCC Air Quality: Biodiversity: LRTAP CBD + regional Policy Arena for Nitrogen UNEA,OECD.. Marine: Stratosphere: Montreal GPA Overarching Goals including + regional Economy Wide Nitrogen Use Efficiency Protocol More food and energy with less pollution INMS International Nitrogen Management System (Science Support Process linking threats & benefits) Building the case for change • Hard times: period of little commitment • How can countries benefit from a joined up nitrogen approach? – WAGES: Water, Air, Greenhouse, Ecosystems, Soils – Win-wins: environment, food & energy security – Nitrogen Use Efficiency: a positive approach – Nitrogen Green/Circular Economy: innovation & jobs – Addressing the Barriers: gravity of common cause.