RESEARCH PROJECT

We need to talk about nitrogen

KEY POINTS
  • • Ett projekt för att föra ett samtal om vad en minskad mängd kväve innebär för lantbrukets produktion, lönsamhet, livsmedelsförsörjning och miljöpåverkan
Updated: September 2025

Project overview

The official name official name of the project:
We need to talk about nitrogen
Project start: May 2025 Ending: April 2027
Project manager: Rasmus Einarsson
Contact: Rasmus Einarsson
Funded by: Formas (2024-02592)

Participants

Project members:

Global goals

  • 2. Zero hunger
  • 12. Responsible consumption and production
  • 13. Climate action
  • 14. Life below water
  • 15. Life on land

Short summary

Synthetic nitrogen fertiliser revolutionised agriculture and has enabled large increases in yields. At the same time, almost all the negative external effects on climate and environment caused by agriculture are directly or indirectly related to the increased nitrogen supply. Research has demonstrated that to reach agreed targets for climate and environment, it is necessary to reduce the addition of new nitrogen. Consequently, agricultural primary production will diminish, which unequivocally will have effects on the food system, from farm to fork.

This project aims to facilitate conversations about the consequences of reduced nitrogen input for production, profitability, food security, vulnerability, consumption and international trade. The project targets food producers through the entire value-chain, professionals within the area of climate and environment, as well as politicians.

The project is led by SLU and carried out in collaboration with Ecologidea and the Swedish Organic Farmers Association.

In our research catalog, you will find more projects