McKnight Foundation and Regenerative Agriculture Foundation release report on reducing nitrous oxide from synthetic fertilizer production and use a<\/em>mbitious yet achievable goals and farmer-centered solutions aim to cut emissions and strengthen rural communities by 2050<\/em><\/h4>\n
<\/a>September 11, 2025 \u2013 The McKnight Foundation and Regenerative Agriculture Foundation are excited to share a new report that explores how climate advocates and funders can support the agriculture sector in implementing sustainable approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Midwest and across the country. Nitrous Oxide\u2014A Hidden Threat: Pathways for Industry and Agriculture to Reduce Emissions from Synthetic Fertilizer<\/strong> explores the challenges and opportunities for both synthetic nitrogen fertilizer producers and farmers to help reduce one of the least tracked greenhouse gasses \u2013 nitrous oxide (N\u2082O). Download the full report here.<\/a><\/p>\nThe report and its recommendations were developed over the course of a year of intensive conversation with farmers, researchers, advocates and thought leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cReducing nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture is critical as we look to address climate change and strengthen the U.S. agriculture economy,\u201d said Tenzin<\/strong> Dolkar, Senior Program Officer at the McKnight Foundation<\/strong> and co-convener of the report. \u201cBy collectively implementing the recommendations set forth in this report, the United States\u2019 agriculture industry can make significant progress in reducing N\u2082O emissions and help lead the way towards a more resilient agriculture system.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cThank you to the dozens of organizations, farmers and researchers that provided input to this important new report,\u201d said Mark Muller, Executive Director of the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation <\/strong>and co-convenor of the report. \u201cWe look forward to partnering with actors across the agriculture industry as we answer the question-how do we reduce agricultural emissions in a way that improves economic resilience, supports farmer livelihoods, and strengthens rural communities?\u201d<\/p>\nMonitoring and reducing emissions from the agriculture sector \u2014especially N\u2082O \u2014 is complex. There are no easy solutions and the strategies to address them are not always clear. This report starts a national conversation by offering commonsense pathways to reduce N\u2082O emissions from the agriculture sector. It lays out ambitious, yet achievable goals for N\u2082O emission reduction from agricultural sources in the United States by the year 2050.<\/p>\n
These goals include:<\/p>\n
\n- Reduce N2O emissions from domestic fertilizer production by 75% by 2035 <\/strong>(compared to 2020 levels).<\/li>\n
- Achieve net-zero GHG emissions from domestic fertilizer production by 2050.<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Reduce the United States\u2019 total agricultural N2O emissions related to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, manure, and organic amendments use by at least 50% by 2050<\/strong> while safeguarding water quality, air quality, environment, and public health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Nitrous Oxide\u2014A Hidden Threat <\/strong>is produced to inspire dialogue and investment from climate funders and advocates to foster implementation of innovative and commonsense solutions that reduce N\u2082O emissions while minimizing the health and environmental impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and protecting crop yields. It includes examples of existing production technology and on-field practices that may be deployed at scale through future investment while offering recommendations for future research and exploration. It identifies key regulatory action to be taken to strengthen existing federal and state programs concerned with nitrogen management.<\/p>\nExamples of recommendations put forth in the report include:<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tUpstream<\/strong><\/h5>\nActions the fertilizer industry can take to reduce N2O emissions during the fertilizer production process<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n- Invest in and deploy existing pollution control technology in the synthetic fertilizer production process.<\/li>\n
- Conduct further research to identify proper synthetic fertilizer application ratios.<\/li>\n
- Prioritize local, rural farm communities as the domestic green fertilizer market grows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
Downstream<\/h5>\n
Actions farmers can take to make a difference on the farm and field<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n- Change the timing of nitrogen applications to support crop yields while reducing emissions.<\/li>\n
- Deploy alternative irrigation practices like drip and subsurface irrigation.<\/li>\n
- Reevaluate crop choices and crop production locations.<\/li>\n
- Accelerate sustainable approaches to nitrogen management.<\/li>\n
- Advance soil health practices and tools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
Regulatory<\/h5>\n
Actions federal\/state policy makers can take to accelerate N2O emissions reduction<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n- Expand resources to properly enforce existing or new emission reduction policies and regulations.<\/li>\n
- Leverage permitting and enforcement within the current federal and state laws to encourage and increase the usage of pollution control technology in the fertilizer production process.<\/li>\n
- Improve federal farm subsidy programs and the Crop Insurance Program to reduce agricultural emissions and improve farm resilience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
Addressing nitrous oxide emissions in agriculture is not just about reducing greenhouse gases. It is about building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system. It\u2019s about ensuring the people who feed us\u2014farmers, farmworkers, rural communities\u2014are supported, empowered, and part of the solution.<\/p>\n

The report and its recommendations were developed over the course of a year of intensive conversation with farmers, researchers, advocates and thought leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cReducing nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture is critical as we look to address climate change and strengthen the U.S. agriculture economy,\u201d said Tenzin<\/strong> Dolkar, Senior Program Officer at the McKnight Foundation<\/strong> and co-convener of the report. \u201cBy collectively implementing the recommendations set forth in this report, the United States\u2019 agriculture industry can make significant progress in reducing N\u2082O emissions and help lead the way towards a more resilient agriculture system.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to the dozens of organizations, farmers and researchers that provided input to this important new report,\u201d said Mark Muller, Executive Director of the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation <\/strong>and co-convenor of the report. \u201cWe look forward to partnering with actors across the agriculture industry as we answer the question-how do we reduce agricultural emissions in a way that improves economic resilience, supports farmer livelihoods, and strengthens rural communities?\u201d<\/p>\n Monitoring and reducing emissions from the agriculture sector \u2014especially N\u2082O \u2014 is complex. There are no easy solutions and the strategies to address them are not always clear. This report starts a national conversation by offering commonsense pathways to reduce N\u2082O emissions from the agriculture sector. It lays out ambitious, yet achievable goals for N\u2082O emission reduction from agricultural sources in the United States by the year 2050.<\/p>\n These goals include:<\/p>\n Nitrous Oxide\u2014A Hidden Threat <\/strong>is produced to inspire dialogue and investment from climate funders and advocates to foster implementation of innovative and commonsense solutions that reduce N\u2082O emissions while minimizing the health and environmental impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and protecting crop yields. It includes examples of existing production technology and on-field practices that may be deployed at scale through future investment while offering recommendations for future research and exploration. It identifies key regulatory action to be taken to strengthen existing federal and state programs concerned with nitrogen management.<\/p>\n Actions the fertilizer industry can take to reduce N2O emissions during the fertilizer production process<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Actions farmers can take to make a difference on the farm and field<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Actions federal\/state policy makers can take to accelerate N2O emissions reduction<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Addressing nitrous oxide emissions in agriculture is not just about reducing greenhouse gases. It is about building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system. It\u2019s about ensuring the people who feed us\u2014farmers, farmworkers, rural communities\u2014are supported, empowered, and part of the solution.<\/p>\n\n
Examples of recommendations put forth in the report include:<\/h3>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Upstream<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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Downstream<\/h5>\n
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Regulatory<\/h5>\n
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