Funding topic 9: Reduction of emissions of reactive nitrogen compounds to environmental compartments

On the one hand, nitrogen, as a central component of protein, is one of the most important bases of life and the motor of all biological growth. On the other hand, reactive nitrogen compounds lead to complex environmental effects such as groundwater pollution with nitrate, eutrophication, release of nitrous oxide and ammonia, and negative biodiversity effects.

Exposure to reactive nitrogen compounds exceeds the safe range of planetary boundaries more than any other environmental problem. Even though nitrogen is indispensable as a nutrient, undesirable discharges into environmental compartments must be avoided as far as possible. So far, this has not been successful. For example, the nitrogen surplus in German agriculture is around 100 kg per hectare of agricultural land per year.

Action is needed to increase the efficiency of mineral and organic nitrogen fertilization and reduce losses of reactive nitrogen compounds. This is only possible with a bundle of measures that address the various sources of emissions.

Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:

• Technology and process developments to improve animal welfare while avoiding nitrogen losses in livestock facilities and in the storage and application of farm manure;
• preventive approaches in the field of protein supply, feeding and feeding technology with the aim of avoiding nitrogen surpluses / nitrogen emissions;
• Improve methods for time and space targeted fertilizer application based on crop demand;
• Measures to make more efficient use of the nitrogen available in the soil;
• Crop management approaches to reduce nitrogen emissions in vegetable production / commercial horticulture;
• Recovery/reuse of reactive nitrogen from waste streams and in wastewater treatment;
• Communicating new knowledge to specific target groups (livestock farmers, crop farmers, water conservation area consultants, etc.);
• Residue recycling or use of “new substrates” in the bioeconomy.

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