Low-Carbon Ammonia Production is Essential for Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture - Dataset

Usage Notes

This repository contains comprehensive data supporting the figures and analyses presented in the article "Low-Carbon Ammonia Production is Essential for Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture". The Source Data file provides the input data used for the main figures in the paper as well as the extended data figures. The Supplementary Data file includes all input data for the supplementary figures. 

Each sheet within the Excel files corresponds to specific figures or datasets, as outlined below. Users are encouraged to refer to the article for additional context and detailed information regarding the datasets presented.

Abstract:

Ammonia-based synthetic nitrogen fertilizers (N-fertilizers) are critical for global food security. However, their production, primarily dependent on fossil fuels, is energy- and carbon-intensive and vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, affecting 1.8 billion people reliant on either imported fertilizers or natural gas. Here, we examine the global N-fertilizers supply chain and analyze context-specific trade-offs of low-carbon ammonia production pathways. Carbon capture and storage can reduce overall emissions by up to 70%, but still relies on natural gas. Electrolytic and biochemical processes minimize emissions but are 2 to 3 times more expensive and require 100 to 300 times more land and water than the business-as-usual production. Decentralized production has the potential to reduce transportation costs, emissions, reliance on imports, and price volatility, increasing agricultural productivity in the Global South, but requires policy support. Interdisciplinary approaches are essential to understand these trade-offs and find resilient ways to feed a growing population minimizing climate impacts.

Authors:

Stefano Mingolla and Lorenzo Rosa*

Affiliation:

Biosphere Sciences and Engineering, Carnegie Science, Stanford, CA 94305, United States of America

Corresponding Author:

*Lorenzo Rosa [e-mail]

Source Data: Description of Sheets

Sheet "Country Name": Provides a list of countries along with their ISO3 nomenclature to facilitate the navigation through the results.

Sheet "Figure 1": Presents the input data for the Sankey diagram, which illustrates the global mass flow of nitrogen fertilizers.

Sheet "Figure 2b": Shows the input data for the map of ammonia production plants.

Sheet "Figure 2c": Lists importers and exporters along with the trade balance of nitrogen fertilizers.

Sheet "Figure 3a-b": Contains data for the food supply chain vulnerability index, with and without consideration of natural gas imports.

Sheet "Figure 3c": Provides estimations on the number of people fed by nitrogen fertilizers.

Sheet "Inputs Tradeoff Analysis": Includes input data for the trade-off analysis of low-carbon ammonia production pathways.

Sheet "Figure 4 and Ext Figure 3": Includes results of the tradeoff analysis in both normalized and absolute terms (for Figure 4 and Extended Data Figure 3).

Sheet "Ext Figure 1": Details the agricultural use, production, import, and export of nitrogen fertilizers.

Sheet "Ext Figure 2a-b": Displays trading routes for nitrogen fertilizers by trade value.

Sheet "Ext Figure 2c": List countries by export of N-fertilizers in monetary value.

Supplementary Data: Description of Sheets

Sheet "Supplementary Figure 2": Presents countries ranked by comulative ammonia production.

Sheet "Supplementary Figure 3": Shows the input data for distribution plot of global ammonia plant capacities.

Sheet "Supplementary Figure 4": Presents the historical (2015-2022) trend in nitrogen fertilizers production, usage, import and export

Sheet "Supplementary Figure 5": Historical (2018-2023) prices of natural gas and ammonia in Europe and US.

Sheet "Supplementary Figure 6": Global ammonia trade data in 2021 and 2022.