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.