Nutri2Cycle: Driving Forces of C N P Ratios in European Farming Systems

This report examines the stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in European farming systems, focusing on C:N:P ratios in crops, animal products, manures, and topsoils. It analyses how market forces, technological change, and policy have driven farming system specialisation, intensification, and upscaling, leading to N- and P-rich agricultural products and reduced C:N and C:P ratios in soil organic matter—increasing system vulnerability and nutrient leakage. Drawing on literature, FAOSTAT, Eurostat, and the MITERRA-Europe model, the study explores nutrient cycling, synthetic fertiliser impacts, manure treatment, food processing, and biological nitrogen fixation. It highlights the importance of C:N:P balance across the food chain and offers recommendations for enhancing agricultural efficiency and sustainability within the Nutri2Cycle initiative. Coordinated by Prof. Erik Meers (Ghent University), with Wageningen Research as work package leader, the 91-page report was completed in April 2020 and revised in January 2021, licensed under CC BY.