NC State University researchers announced on Apr. 16 that they have joined an international coalition to improve how nitrogen fertilizer is used in agriculture. The initiative, called the Agricultural Nitrogen Use Efficiency Platform (AgNUE), aims to collect and analyze data from field sites across Europe and the United States over five years, with support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.
The project addresses challenges faced by farmers in applying the right amount of nitrogen fertilizer, which can impact both costs and environmental health. According to the official website, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State focuses on issues related to food production, natural resources, and community development.
Alex Woodley, associate professor of crop and soil sciences at NC State, will co-lead AgNUE alongside Diego Abalos from Aarhus University in Denmark. Eleven other universities are also involved. “Better data is the foundation for better models,” Woodley said. “By working across countries and production systems, AgNUE will significantly improve our ability to predict nitrogen losses and evaluate mitigation strategies under real conditions.” The College employs specialized research facilities throughout North Carolina as part of its mission according to its official website.
Nitrogen loss due to overapplication remains a common problem because precise management strategies require site-specific information that has been difficult to obtain. “If we want to reduce nitrogen losses at scale, we need models that reflect what actually happens in the field,” Abalos said. “AgNUE is designed to close the gap between measurements, models, and real-world decision-making.” The College functions as a component of North Carolina State University according to its official website.
Claus Felby of Novo Nordisk Foundation said: “I am confident that the tools developed through the AgNUE platform can help mitigate climate change globally without compromising crop productivity and food security.” Data collection will occur at 12 intensively monitored field sites representing different climates; two are located in North Carolina.
Woodley explained: “The goal is to improve a range of models…to provide real-world data to support farmers’ decisions on adoption of stacked solutions for nitrogen efficiency for their specific region.” Allison Thomson from FFAR added: “This collaborative research effort can help generate critical data…that strengthen U.S. agriculture’s competitiveness and protect farmer profitability.”
The College works broadly across North Carolina through extension services present in every county according to its official website, engages with industry partners for research outreach according to its official website, and seeks advances that benefit quality of life through agricultural science applications according to its official website.
