Reshaping the European agro-food system and closing its nitrogen cycle: The potential of combining dietary change, agroecology, and circularity
Review article, 2021

After World War II, the evolution of Europe's agro-food system has been marked by intensified use of synthetic fertilizers, territorial specialization, and integration in global food and feed markets. This evolution led to increased nitrogen (N) losses to aquatic environments and the atmosphere, which, despite increasing environmental regulations, continues to harm ecosystems and human well-being. Here, we explore how these N losses can be drastically reduced in a scenario synergistically operating three levers: (1) a dietary change toward less animal products and an efficient recycling of human excreta; (2) the generalization of region-specific organic crop rotation systems involving N2-fixing legumes, making it possible to do without synthetic N fertilizers; and (3) the reconnection of livestock with cropping systems allowing optimal use of manure. This scenario demonstrates the possibility to feed the projected European population in 2050 without imports of feed and with half the current level of environmental N losses.

organic farming

land sharing

Haber-Bosch nitrogen

agro-food systems

human diet

Europe

Author

Gilles Billen

Sorbonne University

Eduardo Aguilera

Technical University of Madrid

Rasmus Einarsson

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Technical University of Madrid

Josette Garnier

Sorbonne University

Simone Gingrich

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences

Bruna Grizzetti

Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission

Luis Lassaletta

Technical University of Madrid

Julia Le Noë

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences

Alberto Sanz-Cobena

Technical University of Madrid

One Earth

25903330 (ISSN) 25903322 (eISSN)

Vol. 4 6 839-850

Subject Categories

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Other Environmental Engineering

Environmental Management

DOI

10.1016/j.oneear.2021.05.008

More information

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7/3/2024 2