This report assesses the main ingredients needed to navigate the transition towards agreed
nitrogen sustainability targets. Global nitrogen losses pose a serious threat to environmental sustainability and compromise
the ability of the agricultural sector to feed a growing population. The first ENA Special
Report ‘Nitrogen on the Table’ showed how encouraging more plant-based diets can
promote human health and reduce nitrogen emissions. Building on these foundations, the
present report ‘Appetite for Change’ explores pathways towards sustainable nitrogen and
food choices. This report, prepared by the Expert Panel on Nitrogen and Food of the UNECE Task Force
on Reactive Nitrogen, presents the main ingredients and a suggested recipe to navigate
the necessary sustainability transition towards agreed nitrogen targets. It shows that a
combination of diet change towards plant-based diets and technical measures across the
food chain can halve nitrogen waste. It thus sets out a path to reaching targets set in the
Colombo Declaration, the EU Farm to Fork Strategy and the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework. Importantly, diet change can reduce pressure on land resources
and mineral fertilizers, reduce energy dependency and increase resilience to food and
energy crises. ‘Appetite for Change’ emphasizes how the nitrogen cycle, food system, environment and
health are inextricably interlinked. It goes on to identify ambitious and systemic actions
to transform the food system. There are great opportunities for reducing nitrogen losses
from food production and consumption with co-benefits for nutrition and public health. To
be sustainable in the longer term, nitrogen management needs to be based on a systems
approach and requires responsive governance action across inter-connected policy sectors,
engaging a wide set of food system actors. Click the links below to access the report: Full report Executive Summary | 