America’s nitrogen dilemma—and what we can do about it

Less than 100 years ago, we learned -- in the process of perfecting bomb-making technology -- how to create readily available nitrogen on a vast scale. The introduction of mass-produced synthetic nitrogen fertilizer revolutionized agriculture, freeing farmers from the burdens of nitrogen fixation and allowing them to grow more food than ever before. Synthetic nitrogen revolutionized society, too: the explosion in crop yields that it helped drive made food cheaper and more plentiful than ever, setting the stage for the 20th century's population boom.

And because of the physiology of plants and the pressure to maximize yields, farmers routinely over-apply nitrogen. According to Peter Vitousek, a professor of biology at Stanford and a leading scholar on the nitrogen cycle, under optimum conditions and using best practices, plants take up only "50 or at best 60 percent" of the nitrogen laid on by farmers. So if so much of their fertilizer is going to waste, why do farmers apply so much? Vitousek explained that plants take up different amounts of nitrogen at different points in the growing cycle. To ensure that crops have sufficient N when they need it most, farmers essentially have to over-apply.

But what to do about this genuine N dilemma? Our food system has become reliant on an input that appears to be unsustainable at current levels of use, while our population is growing. How can we maintain a robust, plentiful, growing food supply while also using less synthetic N?

Growing Local

PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE

Whether community, state or regional — planning is not complete without a plan for food and agriculture. We're working across the country to help create the vision, road map and policies needed so local agriculture can grow to meet increasing public demands for local food, energy and ecosystem services. Elements include: keeping land available for farming, supporting conservation practices, encouraging the next generation of farm ers and investing in economic development to sustain local farms and promote universal food security.

California’s AgVision

We're partnering with the California Board of Food and Agriculture in facilitating the process to build a strategic plan for the future of agriculture in the nation’s leading farm state. California’s Ag Vision engages leaders and experts in agriculture and related fields to address economic, food safety, environmental and other pressing issues confronting growers and the agricultural sector.

Welcome to the Farmland Information Center

The FIC is a clearinghouse for information about farmland protection and stewardship. It is a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and American Farmland Trust.

Farmland Protection

America's Agricultural Land Is at Risk
Every minute of every day, we lose two acres of agricultural land to development. Why? Farm and ranch land is desirable for building because it tends to be flat, well drained and affordable. And the rapid rate of agricultural land converted to development is unnecessary—over the past 20 years, the average acreage per person for new housing almost doubled—with our best agricultural soils being developed the fastest. short video

WHY SAVE FARMLAND?

American Farmland Trust

As the single largest user of land and water resources in America, farms and ranches can be a key part of the solution to the nation’s most critical environmental challenges, including water quality and climate change.

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WELCOME TO THE AG FUTURES ALLIANCE

The Ag Futures Alliance (AFA) is a county-based collaboration between farmers, ranchers, farm-workers, conservationists, and civic leaders who share a desire to build a vibrant, healthy, and durable food system.

WELCOME TO AG INNOVATIONS NETWORK

Food and food production is the cornerstone of civilization. How we produce, distribute, and consume food reflect both what works and what is failing in our modern world.

Ag Innovations Network’s mission is promote the long-term health of the food system and in particular, of the agricultural production upon which we all depend. To accomplish this mission, we focus exclusively on facilitation of critical dialogues within the food system and between food system stakeholders and the wider public. These dialogues reveal the changing needs, emerging issues, and most importantly new options that will move us towards a better food system.

We invite you to learn more about our work, our team, and our vision.