Too much or never enough
- From
-
Published on
04.12.20
- Impact Area

Although nitrogen has helped in contributing to human dietary needs, there are still large areas of the world — namely sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia — that remain short of the amounts they need to achieve food and nutritional security.
Conversely, synthetic nitrogen has become increasingly crucial in today’s intensive agricultural systems, but nearly half of the fertilizer nitrogen applied on farms leaks into the surrounding environment. It is possible that we have now transgressed the sustainable planetary boundary for nitrogen, and this could have devasting consequences.
Given this conflicting dual role this compound plays in agricultural systems and the environment — both positive and negative — the nitrogen challenge is highly relevant across most of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations.
Related news
-
Progress and challenges in implementing non-market approaches
Climate Action Science Program23.04.25-
Adaptation
-
Mitigation
To date, more than 20 organizations are registered as support providers to implement non-market appr…
Read more -
-
How Conflict-Sensitive Water Management Builds Peace: Lessons from CGIAR’s Training with Egypt’s NWRC
Ibukun Taiwo22.04.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
Climate change is straining water supplies and heightening community tensions. Evidence shows that w…
Read more -
-
Policy, climate finance, and collaboration spotlights at the CGIAR Climate Action Program launch
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)16.04.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
NAIROBI, Kenya (10 April 2025) — Building on over two decades of experience in global…
Read more -