The Integrated Nitrogen Studies in Africa (INSA) project seeks to unpack and analyse the different aspects of the nitrogen budget in Africa, bringing together expertise from different fields in the environmental and social sciences through a network of scientists from Europe and Africa.
Nitrogen is one of the essential nutrients for plant growth and food production at the global scale. However, an imbalance appears between “too much” and “too little” nitrogen supplied regions in the world. This paradox is particulary valid at the scale of Africa. Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is struggling with low nitrogen supplies to crops and insufficient yields to feed its growing population, whereas anthropogenic pollution has harmful impacts in large cities. These processes perpetuate food insecurity in terms of supply and quality on the one hand, and lead to environmental pollution on the other hand. Increasing nitrogen supply without increasing (or ideally while decreasing) emissions of pollutants remains an important societal challenge. Nitrogen management should strive to simultaneously improve the efficiency of nitrogen use, increase farm productivity, enhance soil health, conserve resources and reduce losses of reactive nitrogen to the environment.
These main objectives will be developed as:
I- To provide the most up-to-date view of studies on nitrogen processes and budgets involving the different terrestrial compartments (hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere): build a scientific review and synthesis of existing studies and data around nitrogen in Africa with scientists from Europe and Africa working on ecology, atmospheric chemistry, water quality, soil science, biogeochemistry, agriculture and livestock.
II- To create synergies and adopt new approaches for the study of nitrogen and its environmental impacts: assess the impact of nitrogen on the chemical composition of the atmosphere, greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystems, eutrophication, biodiversity, food security, nitrogen use efficiency, sustainable agriculture.
III- To share knowledge and foster exchanges between African and European institutions, and raise awareness on nitrogen and its impacts on the environment, through: secondments; dissemination and communication activities; building and sharing knowledge within the INSA consortium; including decision-makers, field actors, and users in discussions; developing new skills in a sustainable way and enhancing career prospects for project participants; and disseminating results in a useful and direct way to transfer this knowledge to the public (schools, general population, governments, etc). The INSA project will develop educational materials and disseminate information on the sustainable use of nitrogen as the key action to mitigate harmful societal impacts while ensuring food security.
