Halve meat consumption to ‘slash nitrogen pollution’

Halving the amount of meat and dairy eaten in Europe could slash nitrogen pollution from agriculture, improve health and boost food exports, a study has suggested.

Around four-fifths of nitrogen emissions in the European Union come from agriculture, for example from fertiliser and manure, and between 79% and 88% of the sector’s nitrogen losses into the environment are linked to livestock production.

Nitrogen emissions in the form of ammonia, nitrates and nitrous oxide can cause air, water and soil pollution and account for around 10% of the warming caused by greenhouse gases, experts said.