How Danish farmers have doubled N efficiency already & how to reach ambitious future targets
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With more than 30 years of experience in regulating agriculture, Denmark has shown, that nitrogen losses to atmosphere and aquatic environment can be considerably reduced, while farmers – despite the costs – managed to increase productivity. This can mainly be assigned to a significant increase in nitrogen efficiency in both livestock and arable farming. Long term monitoring data shows that water and air quality have increased as a result of optimizing agricultural practice and regulation. However, environmental pollution still remains a concern and requires more nutrient-loss-reductions. For improved cost-efficiency, further mitigation measures are targeted to specific water bodies or habitats.
With more than 60% of the national territory being agricultural area, an intensive livestock production, shallow groundwaters and short distances to nutrient-sensitive coastal waters along > 7000 km long coastline, Denmark has for many years been facing challenges on how to facilitate competitive farming, while reducing nitrogen (N) losses to sensitive water bodies and habitats.