In the complex and interwoven tapestry of sustainability challenges that the modern world faces, the management of nitrogen emerges as a pivotal factor, especially within the intricate food-energy-water (FEW) nexus. A recent groundbreaking study conducted by Chen, Zhang, and Gu, published in Nature Communications in 2025, delves deeply into this subject with a focus on China, a nation whose massive population and rapid industrial growth present both a formidable challenge and a critical opportunity for sustainable development. This investigation elucidates how strategic nitrogen management can serve as a cornerstone for balancing the demands and impacts across food production, energy generation, and water resource sustainability.
Nitrogen, despite being a fundamental nutrient necessary for plant growth, presents a paradoxical dilemma: its excessive use can drive environmental degradation and resource inefficiency, while insufficient nitrogen compromises crop yields and energy potential. The authors extend this duality into the broader FEW nexus, where the interdependencies among sectors magnify the consequences of nitrogen mismanagement. China’s unique position as both a major agricultural producer and an energy-hungry industrial power offers fertile ground for exploring integrative solutions that could be modelled worldwide.
A key insight from the study highlights the extensive use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in Chinese agriculture, which has indisputably boosted food production but at considerable environmental cost. Nearly half of the applied nitrogen is lost to the environment through leaching, volatilization, and runoff, leading to eutrophication of water bodies, groundwater contamination, and significant greenhouse gas emissions, notably nitrous oxide. The authors argue that traditional nitrogen application methods need urgent reconstruction, integrating precision agricultural techniques and innovative policies to minimize these losses while maintaining or even enhancing crop productivity.
The complexity of the nitrogen cycle is underscored in Chen et al.’s work, as they detail the transformation pathways and fluxes within agricultural ecosystems and their interfaces with energy and water systems. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is shown to be a critical metric, one that can be improved via advanced sensing technologies, controlled-release fertilizers, and breeding crop varieties with higher nitrogen uptake capabilities. Their data emphasize that these technology-driven improvements must be tailored to distinct regional climatic and soil conditions across China’s diverse agricultural landscapes.
Energy production, particularly from nitrogen-intensive bioenergy crops and the fossil fuel sector’s nitrogen oxides emissions, also features prominently in the paper. The authors map out the feedback loops whereby nitrogen losses from agricultural runoff impact water bodies, increasing the energy expenditure required for water treatment. Conversely, energy policies and practices affect nitrogen emissions to air and water, revealing complex trade-offs within the nexus. The paper calls for integrated planning that simultaneously advances energy efficiency, emission reductions, and sustainable nitrogen management.
Water resources in China, strained by demand from agriculture, industry, and populous urban centers, are intricately linked to nitrogen flow and cycling. The study reveals that nitrogen pollution exacerbates water scarcity by contributing to nutrient overloads in freshwater and coastal systems, creating hypoxic zones harmful to aquatic life. These conditions not only degrade ecosystem services but also increase energy demands for water purification and redistribution. Chen and colleagues propose holistic watershed management frameworks that incorporate nitrogen control to break this vicious cycle.
One of the most innovative contributions of this work is the development of a systems-level modeling framework that integrates nitrogen pathways within the FEW nexus. Utilizing satellite data, field experiments, and computational simulations, this model can forecast the environmental impact of various nitrogen management scenarios, allowing policymakers to evaluate trade-offs and synergies more effectively. The model underscores that nitrogen stewardship cannot be siloed within agriculture but must be harmonized with water conservation and energy policies to achieve sustainability goals.
Importantly, the authors recognize the socio-economic dimensions underlying nitrogen management. Farmers’ decision-making processes, market incentives, and regulatory frameworks collectively shape nitrogen application behaviours. Therefore, technology adoption depends heavily on socio-political support structures, education, and financial mechanisms that enable sustainable practices at scale. The study recommends multi-stakeholder engagement platforms and adaptive governance that can respond dynamically to emerging challenges and scientific insights.
The policy implications proffered by Chen, Zhang, and Gu are far-reaching. They advocate for national-level nitrogen reduction targets embedded within China’s broader carbon neutrality commitments, linking nitrogen management with climate mitigation strategies. Policies incentivizing precision agriculture, robust monitoring of nitrogen emissions, and support for research into nitrogen-efficient crops are articulated as priorities. The authors also highlight the need for international collaboration, given that nitrogen pollution transcends national boundaries through atmospheric and hydrological processes.
In the context of global food security, the paper paints a nuanced picture. While boosting agricultural productivity is indispensable to feeding China’s burgeoning population, unchecked nitrogen inputs threaten long-term ecosystem vitality. The balancing act lies in achieving nutrient sufficiency without excess, an endeavor complicated by climate variability and shifting dietary demands. Chen et al. emphasize integrated nutrient management plans that incorporate organic amendments, crop rotation, and landscape-level planning to sustain soil health while optimizing yield.
From an energy perspective, the role of nitrogen is twofold. First, nitrogen compounds like ammonia offer prospects as low-carbon energy carriers, potentially transforming future energy systems if their production and use can be decarbonized. Second, mitigating nitrogen oxide emissions from industrial and combustion processes remains vital to reducing air pollution and climate forcing. The research underscores ongoing technological innovations such as selective catalytic reduction and alternative bioenergy cropping systems that synergize with nitrogen management goals.
Water governance emerges as another vital axis in this nexus, where nitrogen pollution often reflects fragmented management and insufficient cross-sector coordination. The authors advocate for enhancing water quality standards and monitoring capacity, bolstered by community-level engagement in watershed stewardship. They suggest that integrated water resource management frameworks, which treat nitrogen alongside other pollutants, will be essential to reversing trends of ecological degradation and ensuring resilient water supplies.
The study’s implications resonate beyond China’s borders, offering a blueprint for other emerging economies grappling with similar FEW challenges. By illuminating nitrogen’s central role, Chen, Zhang, and Gu bring attention to an often-overlooked but critical lever in achieving sustainable development. Their work complements global environmental agendas, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by linking nutrient management to hunger eradication, clean energy, and water security.
In sum, this comprehensive research draws a compelling roadmap highlighting nitrogen management’s intersectional importance in the FEW nexus. It challenges traditional sectoral approaches and calls for innovative, multi-dimensional strategies to optimize nitrogen use, reduce environmental impacts, and support socio-economic resilience. As nations worldwide strive toward sustainability amidst climate uncertainty and resource constraints, this study provides valuable scientific and policy insights for achieving a balanced and prosperous future.
Chen and colleagues’ paper exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary science and systems thinking in addressing multifaceted global challenges. Their integrated nitrogen-centric perspective not only advances academic understanding but also equips decision-makers with actionable knowledge. As the world seeks pathways toward sustainable development, nitrogen emerges not merely as a nutrient but as a keystone element connecting food security, energy sustainability, and water integrity in profound and impactful ways.
Subject of Research: Nitrogen management strategies for sustainability within the food-energy-water nexus in China.
Article Title: Managing nitrogen to achieve sustainable food-energy-water nexus in China.
Article References:
Chen, B., Zhang, X. & Gu, B. Managing nitrogen to achieve sustainable food-energy-water nexus in China. Nat Commun 16, 4804 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60098-5
Image Credits: AI Generated
