British government mulls ban on farmers using urea under air pollution crackdown

LONDON (ICIS)–Farmers across the UK were on Tuesday facing a potential total ban on the use of solid urea fertilizers in a government clampdown on ammonia emissions to better protect human health and the environment.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has launched a consultation to seek views on reducing ammonia emissions from solid urea fertilizers used for growing plants and crops.

“Ammonia emissions are harmful to natural habitats and our rivers and lakes, as well as to human health, with 87% of the UK’s ammonia emissions coming from farming,” DEFRA said.

“The government has committed to reducing ammonia emissions by 8% of 2005 levels by 2020, and a 16% reduction by 2030.”

A complete ban on urea use is one of three “cost effective” options being explored over the next three months as part of the country’s clean air strategy.

A second option involves a requirement to stabilise solid urea fertilizers with the addition of a urease inhibitor – a chemical that helps slow the conversion of urea to ammonium.

The final suggestion is a total ban on the spreading of solid urea fertilizers outside of a 15 January to 31 March window.

DEFRA noted a ban on solid urea fertilizers would achieve around 31% of the ammonia reduction target by 2030.

“Reducing ammonia emissions will significantly reduce nitrogen deposition to land and in turn help reduce damage to peat bogs, which are an important carbon sink, thereby helping to tackle climate change,” it added.

Environment Secretary, George Eustice, said ammonia emissions from agriculture are causing harm to sensitive and important habitats by making soils more acidic which damages the growth of some plant species, impacting on biodiversity.

“They are also harmful to human health, and we welcome views on how we can address their use in agriculture so that we can all breathe cleaner air,” he said.

“Any changes will need to be made in a way that is realistic and achievable for farmers, but which help us to achieve our ambitious targets for better air quality.

“We are committed to working with farmers to help them do this.”