Indicator 2.60 Ammonia emissions from agriculture

The amount of ammonia (NH3) emissions as a result of the agricultural production. Ammonia emissions per hectare are calculated using the total utilised agricultural area (UAA) of the relevant year as denominator. Data for this indicator come from the EU inventory on air pollution compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA) under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) and are fully consistent with national air pollution inventories compiled by EU Member States. Data on the utilised agricultural area (UAA) stem from Eurostat’s annual crop statistics. The definition of this indicator is based on the CAP indicator C45 Emissions from agriculture

Indicator is used to monitor progress towards SDG 2 on ending hunger and malnutrition; which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under ‘Sustaining our quality of life: Food security, water and nature’. SDG 2 seeks for sustainable and resilient food production systems. Ammonia (NH3) is a colourless, pungent-smelling and corrosive gas that is produced by the decay of organic vegetable matter and from the excrement of humans and animals. When released into the atmosphere, ammonia contributes to the level of air pollution. The agricultural sector continues to be the overwhelming contributor to ammonia emissions in the EU.

The indicator monitors the trends in the use and risk of chemical pesticides in the EU and its Member States. The use of pesticides entails risks and impacts on human health and the environment. The indicator is based on the quantities of chemical active substances contained in the pesticides which are placed on the market (sold), and therefore used, in each Member State, and the hazard properties of these active substances. The data are presented as an index relative to the average results for the period 2015 to 2017. Measures implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Water Framework Directive has lead to EU reductions of ammonia emissions from agriculture since the 1990s. Specifically, measures to change agricultural practices brought about reductions in the use of nitrogenous fertilisers and reduced livestock density per hectare across the EU. The National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (NEC Directive) sets national emission reduction commitments for Member States and the EU for five important air pollutants, including ammonia.

The long-term objective for this indicator is a value of 8 per hectare.