Integrating Nitrogen Management and Agroecosystem Services

As part of an event organized by the Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (JSSSPN) and the Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Dr. Luis Lassaletta delivered a keynote lecture on the role of circularity in building more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. The event brought together perspectives on soil science, plant nutrition, and sustainable agricultural management, providing a platform to discuss how agricultural systems can respond to emerging global challenges, including energy insecurity, resource scarcity, and environmental pressures.

Keynote speaker: Dr. Luis Lassaletta
CEIGRAM/ETSIAAB, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Director, INI Europe

In his keynote lecture, “The Urgency of Circularity: Reconnecting Systems to Overcome Linear Inefficiencies in an Unstable World,” Dr. Luis Lassaletta highlighted the urgent need to transform agri-food systems to address growing energy insecurity and dependence on external nitrogen inputs.

The lecture explored strategies for reducing overall nitrogen consumption, lowering dependence on synthetic fertilizers, relocalizing production, and maximizing the recovery and reuse of regional nitrogen resources. Particular attention was given to the disconnection between crop and livestock production and its implications for nutrient cycling, nitrogen waste, and fertilizer dependency.

By examining different types of agri-food systems and their long-term evolution toward greater openness and specialization, the keynote emphasized the potential of more localized and interconnected systems to improve resource efficiency and resilience.
The presentation underscored the importance of sustainable nitrogen management and circularity in building more resilient agri-food systems capable of responding to global energy challenges and environmental pressures.