The California Nitrogen Assessment

Nitrogen plays a critical role in the global food supply, but the tradeoffs of excess nitrogen application involve increased costs for farmers and consequences for theenvironment and human health. Despite increasing awareness of the importance of these tradeoffs, there is still a lack of cohesive knowledge that gives a big-picture view of California’s nitrogen system. The California Nitrogen Assessment (CNA) is designed to fill this void.

Our approach: The CNA comprehensively examines the existing knowledge on nitrogenscience, policy, and practice in California. Our scientists collect and synthesize a large body of data, using this data to analyze patterns and trends that might otherwise be invisible. Our methodology is modeled on integrated ecosystem assessments like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. CNA link