Increasing awareness as to the causes of air pollution has drawn closer attention to agriculture as the main source of ammonia emissions.

You can’t avoid the significance of ammonia emissions because of their negative consequences for human health, the environment, and society. Together, Yara and farmers are working to be part of the solution and reduce pollution caused by ammonia emissions, in order to preserve our vulnerable ecosystems and create a cleaner planet for the future.

Around 75% of ammonia emissions from agriculture come from livestock systems, and 22% from fertilizer. Your farm can reduce its ammonia emissions by understanding where the losses occur. Implementing a nitrate-based solution is one of the easiest ways to reduce ammonia losses from fertilizer, and if fully implemented could reduce European ammonia emissions by 10% right now.

Why ammonia emissions matter

Cost for the farmer

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Ammonia losses represent a direct reduction in nitrogen available to drive yield.

Nitrate-based fertilizers provide a more predictable and healthy nitrogen supply.

 

Cost to society

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More than 6 billion euros per year are spent on healthcare to treat respiratory illnesses caused by ammonia emissions.

 

Damage to the environment

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Ammonia travels long distances as air pollution and contributes to the acidification of land and water

 

How nitrate-based solutions can reduce your farm’s emissions profile

  • Low volatilization losses. Nitrate-based fertilizer delivers 90% lower ammonia loss than urea on the majority of farms, established in EMEP emission factors.
  • A reliable solution. Calcium ammonium nitrate is a robust solution to minimize ammonia emissions regardless of the prevailing weather.

 

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The use of urea inhibitors can lower emissions from urea by 70% on average, but vary between a 40-90% reduction. *reference: EMEP emission factor

 

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Choosing ammonium nitrate remains the most reliable decision for reducing ammonia emissions. *reference: EMEP emission factor

 


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