Farming minister Daniel Zeichner has this week given evidence in the House of Lords at the ongoing inquiry on nitrogen.
The Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance is calling for a cross-department Nitrogen Strategy to ensure a holistic approach to tackling the pollutant, rather than action being owned only by Defra.
Analysis by the alliance shows that existing policies will not meet the government’s environment targets.
But Emma Hardy, minister for water who joined the farming minister in the Lords today, pointed to existing strategies such as the Environmental Improvement Plan. And despite acknowledging the need for holistic approaches, gave no commitment to a dedicated strategy.
Commenting on the inquiry, Soil Association’s Ellie Roxburgh, who convenes the Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance, said, “Not enough people know that nitrogen is damaging our water systems, air quality, climate and biodiversity. We welcome the government’s recognition of the issue, but more ambitious action is needed. The piecemeal approach from current policies will not be enough to meet the government’s environmental targets or to stop the damage being done to our rivers, wildlife and public health.
Hundreds of millions of pounds are wasted each year with half of the nitrogen fertilisers applied to crops being lost to the environment. We urgently need a commitment to a cross-department nitrogen strategy that delivers greater circularity of nutrients by scaling up nature-friendly, agroecological farming with targets to increase organic farmland across the UK.”
Also commenting on the inquiry, Tom Stuart, Senior Policy Advisor (Production), WWF-UK, and member of the Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance’s Steering Group, said, “We cannot reverse biodiversity loss without reducing nitrogen pollution. As well as causing devastating harm to the climate, our ecosystems, soil health and human health, excess nitrogen is also an economic problem for British farmers who lose around £420 million each year through inefficient fertiliser use.
“This is why WWF is calling for a new national strategy that prioritises win-wins and avoids pollution swapping. In this clearer and more integrated approach cross-government nitrogen budgets and balance sheets would provide the accountability we need, while new framework legislation – a ‘Living Planet Act’ – would ensure the UK Government’s plans and policies for land, water and sea use meet our climate and nature targets, and nutrition security goals.”