Achieving global food security by focusing on nitrogen efficiency potentials and local production

Efficient use of nitrogen (N) is important for crop production, environmental sustainability, and food security. To make improvements, the use of N needs to be carefully analyzed based on efficiency potentials, local production, and regional socio-economy. The utilization of N fertilizer in maize, wheat, and rice production was evaluated for countries with different socio-economic developments, and alternative improvement strategies were developed in relation to the United Nation's sustainable development goals for 2050. A meta-analysis of data from 2095 peer-reviewed papers published involving 52 countries showed that the efficiency of fertilizer N utilization, expressed as recovery efficiency of N (REN), was 36%, 38%, and 29% in the world for maize, wheat, and rice, respectively, compared to 76%, 67%, and 66% potentials. Observed REN differed substantially among countries with different socio-economic development stages, suggesting that different strategies are needed for improvements. Developed countries had REN approaching potentials, and technology innovation that can lead to higher production and environmental safety is the key for further improvements. Rapidly developing countries had large N surpluses, and REN and production can be increased through integrated managements. Slowly developing countries used little fertilizer and had low production, and need to focus on fundamental agriculture in inputs and managements to obtain production sustainability. This study provided an outlook for N fertilizer utilization and crop production by 2050 and approaches that can be taken to reach the goals. This analysis might be useful for countries with different socio-economic developments in developing strategies to achieve the United Nation's sustainable development objectives.

Automated summary

Efficient use of nitrogen is crucial for crop production, environmental sustainability, and food security. This study analyzed nitrogen fertilizer utilization in maize, wheat, and rice production across different countries, highlighting the need for tailored improvement strategies based on socio-economic development stages. Developed countries are close to reaching the potential nitrogen utilization efficiency, while rapidly developing countries can increase production and efficiency through integrated management. Slowly developing countries, on the other hand, need to focus on fundamental agriculture practices to achieve production sustainability.