The Nitrogen Cascade and UVA’s Nitrogen Footprint Reduction Goal Laura Cattell Noll 23 September 2015

Presentation outline The nitrogen cascade 1 The nitrogen dilemma 2 UVA’s Nitrogen Footprint 3 Extending the N Footprint 4

What is REACTIVE NITROGEN? Fertilizer Fossil Fuels Natural Biol. Processes Lightning

Global Nr Creation by Human Activity Total Nr Population Haber Bosch Nr Creation, Tg Nr / yr { Natural Range, terrestrial Legumes Fossil Fuel Galloway et al., 2003; 2008

E N V I R O M T Nr Nr Nr N2 N2 Energy Production Food Production Menzel & D'Aluisio, 2005 Nr

Nitrogen: A Very Leaky Element Consumed Animal Products Atmosphere NH3 N2O NOX N2 NH3 N2O NOX N2 NH3 N2O NOX N2 20% Consumed Crops N inputs: N fertilizer & BNF Crop production: - Crop type - Cropped area - Management Animal production: - Animal species - Animal number - Management 10% Consumed Animal Products feed Agriculture NH4+ NO3- DON Npart NH4+ NO3- DON Npart Groundwater & surface waters Most of Nr used to produced food is lost to the environment either before or after consumption Oenema, 2009

E N V I R O M T Too Much Nitrogen; Too Many Consequences Smog, Haze Forest Impacts Acidification John Aber Ozone Hole Global Warming Eutrophication

Too Much Nitrogen: In a Cascade Smog, Haze Eutrophication Forest Impacts Acidification Global Warming Ozone Hole E N V I R O M T John Aber

The Nitrogen Dilemma Benefits: Necessary for life Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer provides unlimited food supply Drawbacks: Excess reactive nitrogen negatively affects environmental and human health So what we have seen so far tells us that we really have a nitrogen dilemma. We need nitrogen to survive, and we need to use nitrogen to grow our food that sustains a growing population. However when we use and release too much nitrogen, it becomes a pollutant and can contribute to a series of environmental and human health problems. This then presents a challenge: we must determine how to optimize the use of N, while minimizing its negative impacts. Challenge: Optimizing the use of nitrogen, while minimizing the negative impacts

How do we address the Nitrogen dilemma? Technology Policy Individual/Institutional Action There are a few different strategies we can use to address this N dilemma. The first of those is through technology. We can use advanced technology to make sure that the N we use is being used more efficiently. One example of this is improved equipment for fertilizer application to make sure more of the fertilizer gets to the crop. A second strategy is through policy interventions. One example of policy is the limits on the nitrogen loads that can go to the Chesapeake Bay. A third option is more of a bottom-up or grassroots type effort through individual and institutional action. We as individuals can make choices to reduce our impacts, and institutions such can commit to reducing its collective impact. One way we can measure and learn how to reduce our impact is through the use of a nitrogen footprint. Today, I will present the personal N footprint tool we have developed that allows you to calculate your own footprint.

Nitrogen footprints focus on 2 areas of resource consumption: What is a Nitrogen Footprint? = Amount of reactive N released to the environment as a result of an entity’s resource consumption Nitrogen footprints focus on 2 areas of resource consumption: Food Energy So first what is a nitrogen footprint? We define it as the total amount of reactive N released to the environment as a result of an entity’s resource consumption. In the case of a personal nitrogen footprint, there are 4 main activities that release N to the environment. The first of those is food consumption and the associated food production. The other three are driven by fossil fuel combustion. These are housing, transport, and goods & services. These personal N footprint tools are country-specific because different countries use N differently. We have completed tools for the US, NL, and Germany, and we have a number of tools that are in progress. You can calculate your own footprint here today at our N footprint stand or by visiting our website. Calculating your footprint is the first step in reducing your impact!

Food N footprint: Definitions Virtual N = Food production N = N lost to the environment during the food production process Food consumption = N that enters human mouth Nitrogen is a key component of protein

The impact of FOOD CHOICES on a nitrogen footprint V I R O M T E N V I R O M T ½ cup beans 15 g protein 3 oz steak 15 g protein

Who can calculate a N footprint? Individual University City Watershed A nitrogen footprint can be calculated for a number of defined entities. An individual can calculate their N footprint using the online N-Print tool. A university or institution can calculate its footprint using the university tool. Future stages of the N Footprint project will work on a watershed level in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and on an urban level to calculate an N footprint for the city of Baltimore.

The Earth's Resources-The Hydrosphere 4/27/2017 A Nitrogen Footprint Model for Institutions The N footprint of the University of Virginia: A cooperative project with Office of the Architect, Student Dining Services, and Facilities Management Andrew Greene, Image

492 MT N

UVA’s N Footprint: How much N is 492 MT? Food: N in food for 100,000 people for a year Sewage generated by 100,000 people in a year Fertilizer for 1 million bushels of corn Energy: The N emissions from electricity for 160,000 people for a year The N emissions from transportation for 80,000 people for a year 1.8% of the total N load to the Chesapeake Bay from Virginia

University of Virginia’s Environmental Footprint Reduction Plan 4 Focus Areas: Carbon Goal: 25% reduction by 2025 Nitrogen Water Waste UVa’s Nitrogen Footprint 492 metric tons N Goal : Reduce by 123 MT

Many N REDUCTION STRATEGIES are in place or in progress ENERGY & OTHERS $ Storm water N offsets FOOD The university will implement reduction strategies in both energy and food sectors. Many of the N footprint reduction strategies for energy complement ongoing carbon footprint reduction methods. Food strategies will include changes in purchasing to favor foods with smaller environmental impact and improvements in food waste. Energy strategies will include energy conservation and improved energy efficiency. Sustainable Food Local Food Installed in 2011 COMPLETE IN PROGRESS

How could UVA’s N footprint change? Goal 369 MT Four possible projections for the UVA nitrogen footprint were analyzed, starting with the base year (2010) and continuing through the year 2025. The following projections were considered: A) no actions would be taken to reduce UVA’s carbon or nitrogen footprint, including current efforts; B) the 2010 actions (e.g., some food composting, advanced sewage treatment) would remain in place and the university would also achieve its stated goal to reduce carbon emissions; C) action B would be built on with additional actions identified as realistic in discussions with university stakeholders (e.g., expanded food composting, increased availability of meat-free proteins); and D) all modeled scenarios would be implemented, including scenarios that would be difficult to fully achieve (e.g., 100% sustainable food). Different nitrogen management strategies were analyzed with the nitrogen footprint model to see how UVA’s N footprint could change in the coming years.

Extending the Nitrogen Footprint Tool Universities Secondary schools with EarthEcho Watersheds: Chesapeake Bay with CBF Cities: Baltimore with Baltimore LTER

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed ? The Chesapeake Bay has experienced numerous and highly visible environmental impacts resulting from nitrogen pollution, which has made nitrogen an important issue for scientists and policymakers in the watershed. While other nitrogen footprints do not specify where nitrogen is released, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has developed a footprint tool that determines the amount of nitrogen released into the bay’s watershed for an individual. Our collaboration with CBF will help to produce a more robust tool for watershed residents to determine their impact on the bay. An individual’s bay footprint may differ from their general N footprint depending on where their food comes from – food produced outside the watershed will not contribute to the bay footprint.

Nitrogen Footprint Calculator for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed! Merging Two Models New and improved Nitrogen Footprint Calculator for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed!

Thank you! Special Thanks to: Jim Galloway, Allison Leach, Albert Bleeker, Jan Willem Erisman, Rick Kohn, Elizabeth Castner, Lia Cattaneo, Edie Taylor, Andrea Trimble, Andrew Greene, Brooke Atwell, Beth McGee, Molly Clark, Jana Compton

Extra Slides

After Galloway et al., 2003; Ciais et al., 2013

Scale of Impact Personal, Business/Institution, Urban/Community City Watershed Nation Institution Universities Secondary schools Businesses Individual Consumer Household Personal, Business/Institution, Urban/Community

Personal N footprint in United States Goods & services Transport Housing Food production Kg N/person/year Food consumption www.N-Print.org

Online tool to calculate a PERSONAL NITROGEN FOOTPRINT www.N-Print.org

Relationship to Carbon Footprint