The impact of ammonia emissions from agriculture on biodiversity

17 September 2018

As part of its Living Landscapes programme, the Royal Society, in collaboration with RAND Europe, has undertaken a 3-month rapid synthesis project on air quality to trial evidence synthesis principles. The report provides a synthesis of current evidence on the impacts of ammonia emissions from agriculture on biodiversity (PDF). A separate summary document (PDF) highlights the report's key findings.

The agricultural sector is the biggest contributor to ammonia pollution in the UK. As levels of other air pollutants have declined, ammonia emissions in the UK have been rising since 2013, with significant implications for ecosystems and human health. The effects of ammonia emissions on human health are widely acknowledged. However, the environmental impacts of ammonia, despite being a growing concern, are less widely documented.

The report has also been submitted to Defra’s Clean Air Strategy consultation. View the consultation response.