NitroScope continues to contribute to scientific dialogue across Europe, with professor Grégoire Meylan of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) presenting recent work on the project during a dedicated seminar session.
The presentation focused on one of the key challenges addressed by NitroScope: understanding and improving nitrogen flows in agricultural systems. Currently, less than half of the nitrogen applied through fertilizers is effectively absorbed by crops, while the remaining portion is lost through nitrate leaching and atmospheric emissions. These losses have significant environmental, economic, and climate-related implications.
During the seminar, Professor Meylan highlighted how NitroScope is tackling these challenges through advanced analytical approaches. The FHNW team plays a key role in the project by applying Material Flow Analysis (MFA) in combination with process-based models to better quantify and understand nitrogen dynamics at different scales.
This work will contribute to the development and refinement of nitrogen budgets across Europe, supporting more accurate assessments of nitrogen use efficiency and environmental impacts. By integrating data from multiple sources and modelling approaches, NitroScope aims to provide a clearer and more comprehensive picture of how nitrogen moves across agricultural systems.
The Role of FHNW in NitroScope
As a key partner in the consortium, FHNW brings expertise in environmental systems analysis and modelling. Their contribution is central to linking scientific data with practical applications, ensuring that nitrogen flow assessments can inform both policy and on-farm decision-making.
Through its involvement in NitroScope, FHNW supports the development of harmonised methodologies and contributes to strengthening the scientific basis for sustainable nitrogen management across Europe.