Today, 16 September, is the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, established by the United Nations to mark the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987. It is a good opportunity to remind ourselves how important this invisible barrier is to life on Earth.

The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs a significant proportion of the harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. When it becomes thinner, more UV radiation reaches the Earth’s surface, increasing the risk of health problems such as skin cancer and cataracts, while also affecting plants and ecosystems.

Among the substances that continue to affect it is nitrous oxide (N₂O). It is both a potent greenhouse gas and a substance that contributes to the degradation of stratospheric ozone. Agriculture is one of its main sources.

The connection lies in the nitrogen cycle: plants need nitrogen to grow, while fertilisers and organic fertilisers containing nitrogen play an important role in securing agricultural production. However, not all the nitrogen applied reaches plants. In soil, through natural processes carried out by microorganisms, some of it can be transformed and released into the atmosphere in the form of nitrous oxide.

This does not mean that agriculture must give up fertilisation, but nitrogen must be used properly and efficiently. The advantages are not limited to the savings made on farms; they also benefit the environment. By correctly calibrating the quantities of fertiliser, avoiding overuse and using modern equipment that ensures more precise application, farmers can reduce losses and retain a greater proportion of nutrients precisely where they are needed.

UNEP shows that agriculture is the dominant source of N₂O emissions generated by human activity, particularly through fertilisers and manure management. Reducing these emissions can bring simultaneous benefits for the climate and the ozone layer.

Agriculture is also connected to the air we breathe here, at ground level. Ammonia is another nitrogen compound, associated particularly with livestock activities, the storage and use of manure, and the use of nitrogen fertilisers. It is not responsible for thinning the ozone layer, but it contributes to air pollution and the formation of fine particles.

Modern storage and application technologies, composting or biogas production, and better organisation of activities on farms can limit these losses.

And in a context where every fraction of a degree matters for a warming planet, reducing pressure on the environment becomes a responsibility in every sector, including agriculture.

This vision is also reflected in the RAPID Project – Prevention and Reduction of Pollution in Rural Areas, implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests and financed through a loan agreement between Romania and the World Bank.

The project starts from the need to find a balance between three things society needs in equal measure: agriculture capable of producing food, a healthy environment and the protection of people’s health.

The solution is to use science, technology and precision to reduce undesirable effects.

At institutional level, this means funding for the purchase of modern equipment for measurement and monitoring, and for obtaining better data to understand where problems arise and which solutions work.

On farms, it means funding for the purchase of equipment that applies nutrients precisely and uses resources more efficiently, as well as training in applying good agricultural practices.

The RAPID Project starts from the idea that agriculture and environmental protection can progress together by finding the right balance between the need for food, the responsible use of resources and people’s health, while also understanding that science, technology and precision provide us with the right tools to make better choices.

More information about the RAPID Project is available at www.apanoastra.ro.