Brazilian soy exported to feed European cattle affects nitrogen recycling

Published 2023년 3월 10일

Tridge summary

The European Union is facing an environmental crisis due to high nitrogen emissions and ecosystem acidification, largely caused by livestock activities that account for 17% of the bloc's greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers from the USP's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science have Conducted a study on the environmental impact of increased Brazilian soy exports to feed European livestock, warning of the dangers of disrupting the nitrogen cycle. The research highlights that the large-scale production of soybeans, especially with the use of fertilizers, increases the release of reactive nitrogen, contributing to soil contamination and acidification. Livestock farming also plays a role in overloading the cycle due to the ammonia in manure. In the Netherlands, the government is taking measures to reduce nitrogen emissions from pig farming, including financial incentives to reduce the number of pigs.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The European Union faces a serious environmental crisis with high nitrogen emission rates and the acidification of its ecosystems. Concerns turn to livestock activity, which is responsible for 17% of the bloc's greenhouse gas emissions. Within this scenario, researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ) at USP studied the impacts generated by the increased export of Brazilian soy to feed European livestock and warn of the dangers of overloading the nitrogen cycle in our own territory. Nitrogen is present in 78% of the Earth's atmosphere and is essential for human life and for the nutrition and growth of plants, which need it to develop. In addition, it is a nutrient used by various organisms, being necessary to form proteins, nucleic acids and other components of the cell. The nitrogen cycle, in turn, is the process that ensures the recycling of the element in the environment, allowing it to circulate through the biosphere. However, with the rise in ...

Source: Usp