Sustainable nitrogen fixation: Agrochemical research in food production adapted to planetary limits

Authors

  • Lluís Pascual University of Valencia (Spain).
  • Emanuela Accardo Institute of Chemical Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (Spain).
  • Hermenegildo Garcia Baldoví Institute of Chemical Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (Spain). hergarba@itq.upv.es https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8628-2605

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.15.27595

Keywords:

nitrogen fixation, ammonia synthesis, Haber-Bosch process, sustainability, fertilisers

Abstract

Today's global food production depends on the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by using the Haber-Bosch process. The application of this catalytic system laid the foundations for the development of industrial agriculture and led to an unprecedented acceleration in the growth of human societies during the so-called Green Revolution. However, this production model does not appear to be able to adapt to the current challenges of energy sustainability and climate crisis response. The Haber-Bosch cycle has a major impact on energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. In order to rethink this agri-food model, this article examines chemical and technological development strategies to move towards an energy and environmentally sustainable model.

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Author Biographies

Lluís Pascual, University of Valencia (Spain).

PhD in Chemistry and Associate Professor at the Department of History of Science and Documentation of the University of Valencia (Spain).

Emanuela Accardo, Institute of Chemical Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (Spain).

PhD student at the Institute of Chemical Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (Spain).

Hermenegildo Garcia Baldoví, Institute of Chemical Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (Spain). hergarba@itq.upv.es

Ramón y Cajal researcher at the Department of Chemistry and researcher at the Institute of Chemical Technology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) (Spain). hergarba@itq.upv.es

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Published

2024-07-04

How to Cite

Pascual, L., Accardo, E., & Garcia Baldoví, H. (2024). Sustainable nitrogen fixation: Agrochemical research in food production adapted to planetary limits. Metode Science Studies Journal, (15). https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.15.27595
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Issue

No. 15: Volume 15 (Online first)

Section

Everything is chemistry: Challenges for a sustainable future

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