A discussion on tackling agricultural air pollution and the role of regulation. Highlighting the main challenges and barriers as well areas to consider when developing solutions.

1. Ammonia – Ammonia and Agriculture –
Challenges from a Regulators Perspective
12th October 2021
Mella Waitt - Environment Agency

2. The Nitrogen problem

3. UK Agricultural Ammonia Sources 2018
149
Emissions by management category
Manure application
26%
Livestock Housing
27%
Manure
Storage
9%
Fertiliser application
18%
Digestate
&
sludge
6%
Grazing
7%
Hard
Standings
7%
Emissions by source
Inorganic fertiliser
18%
Poultry
16%
Pigs
8%
Digestate
&
sludge
6%
Sheep
4%
Cattle
48%

4. Ammonia Projections
Legally-biding reduction target: 8% and 16% reduction on 2005 levels by 2020 and 2030, respectively.

5. Habitat Impact
Average Accumulated Exceedance (AAE) 2017 – 2019 Critical load
exceedances
NH3

6. Where do we want to get to?
Biodiversity
Reduced
Ammonia
Emissions
Critical
loads
Soils ,
water, GHG
Food supply
Sustainability
Economics
Animal
Welfare
Impact
assessment

7. Barriers and Challenges
• Defining the ambition
• How to achieve the ambition
• Technical
• Assessment

8. Using Nitrogen Efficiently
Source: COGAP report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-good-agricultural-practice-for-
reducing-ammonia-emissions/code-of-good-agricultural-practice-cogap-for-reducing-ammonia-emissions

9. Source: storthmachinery.co.uk

10. Assessment approaches
• Precision?
• Screening tools?
• Air Quality, biodiversity and ecology?
• Process control/BAT?
• Cross media effects and trade offs?
• Betterment?

11. Reducing environmental impact from
Agriculture – other mechanisms?

12. Things to Think about in future
• Integrated approach
• Role of advisory and farmer initiatives,
regulation, market led approaches
• Collaboration

13. Thank you for listening.
Any questions?