Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from the global food system

O. Oenema; X. Ju; C. de Klein; J.P. Lesschen; G.L. Velthof; C. Kroeze

doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2014.08.003

Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from the global food system

O. Oenema, X. Ju, C. de Klein, J.P. Lesschen, G.L. Velthof, C. Kroeze

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The global food system is a main source of nitrous oxide (N2O), estimated at 4.1–4.4 Tg N2O-N for 2010. Here, we review this source and assess its mitigation potential. Five mitigation strategies were explored and compared to a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) scenario: firstly, improved crop production; secondly, improved animal production; thirdly, improved manure management; fourthly improved food utilization; and finally, less animal-derived protein in diets. In the BAU scenario, emissions increased to 6.4 Tg for 2030 and 7.5 Tg for 2050. Emission reduction strategies could potentially reduce emissions to 4.1 Tg in 2030 and to 3.3 Tg in 2050, but there is considerable uncertainty in these estimates. In conclusion, packages of coherent strategies may offset the projected increases in N2O emissions from the global food system.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	55-64
Journal	Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
Volume	9-10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2014.08.003
Publication status	Published - 2014

Keywords

phosphorus use efficiencies
greenhouse-gas emissions
n2o emissions
environmental-quality
fertilizer nitrogen
agricultural soils
management
china
crops
mitigation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.cosust.2014.08.003

3 Finished

Animal Change (BO-22.04-006-007)
van den Pol-van Dasselaar, A.
1/01/15 → 31/12/15
Project: EZproject
Animal Change (KB-12-006.04-003)
van den Pol-van Dasselaar, A.
1/01/12 → 1/03/15
Project: EZproject
ANIMALCHANGE: AN Integration of Mitigation and Adaptation options for sustainable Livestock production under climate CHANGE
1/03/11 → 28/02/15
Project: EU research project

Cite this

@article{e5ffb4c1d0134a8c8f9a61921d7e680e,

title = "Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from the global food system",

abstract = "The global food system is a main source of nitrous oxide (N2O), estimated at 4.1–4.4 Tg N2O-N for 2010. Here, we review this source and assess its mitigation potential. Five mitigation strategies were explored and compared to a {\textquoteleft}business as usual{\textquoteright} (BAU) scenario: firstly, improved crop production; secondly, improved animal production; thirdly, improved manure management; fourthly improved food utilization; and finally, less animal-derived protein in diets. In the BAU scenario, emissions increased to 6.4 Tg for 2030 and 7.5 Tg for 2050. Emission reduction strategies could potentially reduce emissions to 4.1 Tg in 2030 and to 3.3 Tg in 2050, but there is considerable uncertainty in these estimates. In conclusion, packages of coherent strategies may offset the projected increases in N2O emissions from the global food system.",

keywords = "phosphorus use efficiencies, greenhouse-gas emissions, n2o emissions, environmental-quality, fertilizer nitrogen, agricultural soils, management, china, crops, mitigation",

author = "O. Oenema and X. Ju and {de Klein}, C. and J.P. Lesschen and G.L. Velthof and C. Kroeze",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1016/j.cosust.2014.08.003",

language = "English",

volume = "9-10",

pages = "55--64",

journal = "Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability",

issn = "1877-3435",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from the global food system

AU - Oenema, O.

AU - Ju, X.

AU - de Klein, C.

AU - Lesschen, J.P.

AU - Velthof, G.L.

AU - Kroeze, C.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - The global food system is a main source of nitrous oxide (N2O), estimated at 4.1–4.4 Tg N2O-N for 2010. Here, we review this source and assess its mitigation potential. Five mitigation strategies were explored and compared to a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) scenario: firstly, improved crop production; secondly, improved animal production; thirdly, improved manure management; fourthly improved food utilization; and finally, less animal-derived protein in diets. In the BAU scenario, emissions increased to 6.4 Tg for 2030 and 7.5 Tg for 2050. Emission reduction strategies could potentially reduce emissions to 4.1 Tg in 2030 and to 3.3 Tg in 2050, but there is considerable uncertainty in these estimates. In conclusion, packages of coherent strategies may offset the projected increases in N2O emissions from the global food system.

AB - The global food system is a main source of nitrous oxide (N2O), estimated at 4.1–4.4 Tg N2O-N for 2010. Here, we review this source and assess its mitigation potential. Five mitigation strategies were explored and compared to a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) scenario: firstly, improved crop production; secondly, improved animal production; thirdly, improved manure management; fourthly improved food utilization; and finally, less animal-derived protein in diets. In the BAU scenario, emissions increased to 6.4 Tg for 2030 and 7.5 Tg for 2050. Emission reduction strategies could potentially reduce emissions to 4.1 Tg in 2030 and to 3.3 Tg in 2050, but there is considerable uncertainty in these estimates. In conclusion, packages of coherent strategies may offset the projected increases in N2O emissions from the global food system.

KW - phosphorus use efficiencies

KW - greenhouse-gas emissions

KW - n2o emissions

KW - environmental-quality

KW - fertilizer nitrogen

KW - agricultural soils

KW - management

KW - china

KW - crops

KW - mitigation

U2 - 10.1016/j.cosust.2014.08.003

DO - 10.1016/j.cosust.2014.08.003

M3 - Article

VL - 9-10

SP - 55

EP - 64

JO - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

JF - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

SN - 1877-3435

ER -

Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from the global food system

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Projects

Animal Change (BO-22.04-006-007)

Animal Change (KB-12-006.04-003)

ANIMALCHANGE: AN Integration of Mitigation and Adaptation options for sustainable Livestock production under climate CHANGE

Cite this