The report outlines that fertilizers leak into the atmosphere, or leach into groundwater, soil, rivers and coastal waters, creating an excess of nutrients in the environment.
Degraded soil contributes to the insufficient food production affecting nearly one billion people.
3 December 2010: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report in collaboration with the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management titled “Building the Foundations for Sustainable Nutrient Management.”
The report concludes that growing demands for food can be met through sustainable production and sustainable use of fertilizers, which, if not managed correctly, will have negative impacts on food security as well as water quality and availability, fisheries and biodiversity. The report shows that fertilizers leak into the atmosphere, or leach into groundwater, soil, rivers and coastal waters, creating an excess of nutrients in the environment. Conversely, nearly one billion people are affected by insufficient food production, a major contributing factor to which is a shortage of nutrients due to degraded soils. More efficient use of fertilizers could address this issue.
The report uses the Black Sea Basin as an example of trans-boundary cooperation among countries and UN agencies to promote effective nutrient management. Degraded by pollution from over-fertilization and excessive nutrients, the Black Sea Basin now is being rehabilitated by pollution control efforts, through a partnership project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and with the cooperation of UNEP, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and basin countries. [UNEP Press Release] [The Publication]