Building Resilience in UK food production: How can the UK break our dependence on Synthetic Nitrogen Fertiliser?
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
A report produced by the Soil Association for the Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance.
The UK's food system has become quietly dependent on something most people never think about: synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.
Yet its use sits at the heart of modern agriculture, helping to produce much of the food on our plates.
A new report, Building resilience in UK food production, produced for the Sustainable Nitrogen Alliance, argues that this dependence is harming farmers, consumers, public health and national security.
Download the report, and read our summary blog below.
The national security, climate, environmental and public health case
(1) A matter of National Security
Because synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is largely produced using natural gas, food production is vulnerable to global energy markets and geopolitical shocks. This dependency should be a national security concern. This isn’t a ‘what if’ issue – it's happening already - the war in Ukraine exposed just how fragile this system can be, with fertiliser prices soaring and farm costs rising sharply. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Iran have brought further shocks, impacting farm businesses.
Our report warns that the UK's continued reliance on imported fertilisers and gas leaves food production exposed to future supply disruptions and price spikes.
(2) Promoting Farm Profitability
Farmers are increasingly affected by volatile fertiliser costs. Synthetic fertiliser can account for a significant share of farm expenditure, and recent price shocks have dramatically reduced farm incomes. Evidence highlighted in the report suggests that lower-input farming systems, including regenerative approaches such as organic, can maintain productivity while improving profitability by reducing dependence on costly external inputs.
(3) Safeguarding the Environment
Excess nitrogen from farmland is a major source of river pollution, biodiversity loss and soil degradation. Around 70% of nitrate pollution in the UK's water environment originates from agriculture, while nitrogen overload affects wildlife habitats across the country. Reducing synthetic nitrogen use would help restore ecosystems while supporting national commitments on biodiversity and water quality.
(4) Halting Climate Change
The manufacture and use of synthetic fertiliser contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. While improving fertiliser efficiency can help, a more fundamental shift towards nature-based fertility systems is needed if the UK is to meet its climate goals.
(5) Protecting Public Health
At the same time, ammonia emissions from fertiliser use and intensive livestock production contribute to the formation of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), which is linked to respiratory disease, asthma and cardiovascular illness. In some UK cities, agricultural ammonia contributes more to PM2.5 formation than urban sources themselves.
CASE CLOSED: Agriculture must reduce its dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.
What would farming look like without synthetic nitrogen fertiliser?
Our report does not advocate an abrupt ban. Instead, we call for a planned transition towards agroecological systems that rely more heavily on nitrogen-fixing plants such as peas, beans and clover, alongside better nutrient recycling and mixed farming practices. Modelling reviewed in the report suggests that the UK could still produce enough food to support healthy diets if changes in farming are accompanied by reduced food waste and a shift towards more plant-rich diets.
Such a transition would involve producing more legumes, vegetables and fruit, while reducing reliance on grain-fed livestock systems. This could improve dietary health, provide an alternative protein source, reduce environmental pressures and strengthen resilience against future shocks. Importantly, the report argues that many of the necessary farming practices are already well understood and are being successfully used by farmers across the UK today.
Policymakers should treat synthetic nitrogen as a strategic issue rather than simply an agricultural input. Reducing dependence on it could simultaneously improve food security, strengthen farm businesses, cut pollution and support public health.
Key Recommendations from the Report
As a strategic priority, the Government must acknowledge the use and flow of reactive nitrogen through an annual national nitrogen balance sheet and national nitrogen strategy. Nitrogen should also be treated as a priority in circular economy policy.
In addition to these core asks, we recommend change in three policy areas:
Support farmers to reduce dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser through low-input and agroecological farming
Target farm payments towards nature-friendly farming, mixed farming systems and organic production and develop policies that favour the use of nitrogen-fixing crops such as peas, beans and clover.
Accelerate action to reduce food waste
Strengthen policies, reporting requirements and incentives to reduce food waste across the supply chain, cutting unnecessary fertiliser use while lowering costs for households.
Promote a shift to healthier and more sustainable diets
Implement bold public health measures that encourage consumption patterns aligned with lower-input farming systems, including greater intake of plant proteins, fruit and vegetables.
Breaking the UK's dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser is not simply an ambition. It is increasingly a matter of national resilience, food security and economic stability.
For more information, download the report:
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