Policy Brief No2 Released

SAIN Policy Brief No 2 released with title of "Greater Food Security and a Better Environment through Improved Nitrogen Fertilizer Management". This Policy Brief is one of the outputs of SAIN project "Improved Nutrient Management in Agriculture–a Key Contribution to the Low Cabon Economy". The project is funded by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office and by China's Ministry of Agriculture. It is led by Prof Zhang Fusuo of China Agricultural University, ane Prof David Powlson of Rothamsted Research, UK. The key points of the Policy Brief include:

1. N fertilizer is essential for China's long-term food security.
2. Over past three decades, continuously increase in N fertilizer use and there is now a serious use which leads to a series problems include low use efficiency, high non-point pollution, increased GHG emission, soil acidification and reduced farmers' income.
3. Numerous research evidence show N fertilizer use can be reduced by 30% in many parts of China without threat to China's food security target, but to achieve multiple wins of improved farmer income, better environment, and energy and GHG emission reduction. These gains would have benefits for regional and global food security.
4. To achieve the target of the optimum N fertilizer application, integration of technological interventions with supporting policies, information services and institutional innovations is essential.

Click here to read the full text.