Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1038/s43016-025-01210-2
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Scenario analysis of nitrogen surplus typologies in Europe shows that a 20% fertilizer reduction may fall short of 2030 EU Green Deal goals
Author Batool, M. ORCID logo ; Sarrazin, F.J.; Zhang, X.; Musolff, A.; Nguyen, V.T. ORCID logo ; Attinger, S.; Kumar, R. ORCID logo
Source Titel Nature Food
Year 2025
Department CHS; HDG
Volume 6
Issue 8
Page From 787
Page To 798
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15520405
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6581441
Supplements https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs43016-025-01210-2/MediaObjects/43016_2025_1210_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs43016-025-01210-2/MediaObjects/43016_2025_1210_MOESM2_ESM.pdf
https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs43016-025-01210-2/MediaObjects/43016_2025_1210_MOESM3_ESM.xlsx
Abstract The Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy under the Green Deal aims to halve nutrient losses by 2030 in the European Union (EU). Here, using the nitrogen surplus as an indicator for nitrogen losses in agricultural areas, we explore a range of scenarios for nitrogen surplus reduction across EU landscapes. We identify four nitrogen surplus typologies, each responding differently to input reduction. A 20% decrease in synthetic fertilizer alone is projected to reduce the nitrogen surplus by only 10–16%, falling short of F2F goals. Specific top-down scenarios such as reducing synthetic fertilizer by 43% and animal manure by 4%, coupled with improved technological and management practices, can achieve a reduction of up to 30–45% in nitrogen surplus. Among the most ambitious scenarios, only a handful of EU countries (four to five) may meet the intended F2F nitrogen pollution targets. Achieving F2F goals requires region-specific strategies to reduce nitrogen use while improving efficiency and sustaining productivity.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=31156
Batool, M., Sarrazin, F.J., Zhang, X., Musolff, A., Nguyen, V.T., Attinger, S., Kumar, R. (2025):
Scenario analysis of nitrogen surplus typologies in Europe shows that a 20% fertilizer reduction may fall short of 2030 EU Green Deal goals
Nat. Food 6 (8), 787 - 798 10.1038/s43016-025-01210-2