Farming minister Daniel Zeichner has today (22 May) given evidence in the House of Lords at the ongoing inquiry on nitrogen. The Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance is calling for a cross-department Nitrogen Strategy to ensure a holistic approach to tackling the pollutant, rather than action being owned only by Defra. Analysis by the alliance shows that existing policies will not meet the government’s environment targets.
But Emma Hardy, Minister for Water who joined the Farming Minister in the Lords today, pointed to existing strategies such as the Environmental Improvement Plan. And despite acknowledging the need for holistic approaches, gave no commitment to a dedicated strategy.
Commenting on the inquiry, Soil Association’s Ellie Roxburgh, who convenes the Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance, said:
“Not enough people know that nitrogen is damaging our water systems, air quality, climate and biodiversity. We welcome the government’s recognition of the issue, but more ambitious action is needed. The piecemeal approach from current policies will not be enough to meet the government’s environmental targets or to stop the damage being done to our rivers, wildlife and public health. Hundreds of millions of pounds are wasted each year with half of the nitrogen fertilisers applied to crops being lost to the environment. We urgently need a commitment to a cross-department Nitrogen Strategy that delivers greater circularity of nutrients by scaling up nature-friendly, agroecological farming with targets to increase organic farmland across the UK.”
