Energy and food security implications of transitioning synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to net-zero emissions

Abstract By synthetically producing nitrogen fertilizers from ammonia (NH 3 ), the Haber–Bosch process has been feeding humanity for more than one hundred years. However, current NH production relies on fossil fuels, and is energy carbon intensive. This commits to emissions levels not compatible with climate goals agricultural fuels dependency. Here, we quantify food implications of transitioning net-zero CO 2 emissions. We find that 1.07 billion people are fed produced imported fertilizers. An additional 710 million natural gas feedstocks used production, meaning 1.78 per year imports either or gas. These findings highlight reliance global trading hence its vulnerability supply shocks. alternative routes achieve in exist, which based capture storage, electrification, biomass. comply targets while mitigating risks associated security. Yet, they require land, energy, water business-as-usual exacerbating land scarcity use limited resources. Transitioning can contribute security goals, although water, trade-offs should be considered.