Workshop to focus on sustainable use of nitrogen in food production

Optimising nitrogen usage has a vital role to play in efficient, sustainable farming, according to 350 international scientists and policy makers gathered for the International Nitrogen Workshop.

Having opened yesterday in Wexford Opera House, this is the first time the four-day international conference has been hosted in Ireland.

Organised by Teagasc and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland, this conference takes place every two to three years.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney said: “Irish agriculture must be at the forefront of innovation and scientific developments to maintain Ireland’s international image and reputation for producing top quality food in an environmentally friendly manner.”

Nitrogen is one of the key factors limiting global food production, with a high proportion of current food production being dependant on inputs of nitrogen fertilisers. The production of chemical nitrogen fertilisers uses 1% of global energy, but supports global food production.

There is a potential conflict between providing more food and protecting the environment. The loss of reactive nitrogen has major impacts on global environmental quality via air and water pollution and is contributing to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.

Now in its 30th year, the International Nitrogen Workshop provides scientists, policy makers and agri-food stakeholders with a forum to discuss strategies for maximising the use of nitrogen resources.

This week’s workshop is focused on recent innovations in sustainable nitrogen use. This workshop will highlight advances in nitrogen science and how newly developed molecular biology tools can be used to help improve crop nitrogen utilisation and reduce environmental losses.

Workshop chairman Karl Richards said: “The challenge for agriculture is to increase food production whilst minimising impacts and, indeed, enhancing environmental quality.”