A map of potential nitrogen emissions from fields is now available on Danmarks Miljøportal

It will now be easier to get a more nuanced overview of the potential nitrogen emissions from agricultural areas, based on natural conditions such as soil type, precipitation and nitrogen retention. The new field discharge map shows where the potential emissions from fields to the coast are greatest, and makes it easier to make decisions about initiatives where the effect is greatest - for example, whether the land can be extensified or forested.

"The field discharge map supplements the existing retention map from GEUS, but provides a more nuanced picture of which areas potentially contribute most to nitrogen emissions to the coast by also including soil type and precipitation. This provides a better data basis for the local green tripartites when they plan where land conversion makes the most sense," says Søren Kolind Hvid, Senior Consultant at SEGES Innovation.

"However, the field discharge map does not say anything about the specific nitrogen emissions from a field today, as it also depends on cultivation practices, which the map does not take into account," he says.

Danish Agriculture & Food Council: Strengthens the basis for identifying areas for extensification and afforestation

The Danish Agriculture & Food Council asked SEGES Innovation to prepare the map to support the local tripartites in identifying relevant areas for extensification and afforestation, where there are no potential maps to relate to. Therefore, it has been important for the Danish Agriculture and Food Council that there has been an improved map layer that can help identify which areas can deliver the potentially greatest possible nitrogen effects.

"If you only use the retention map to identify areas for e.g. afforestation and extensification, you risk going after the wrong areas where the potential for nitrogen reduction is lower. With the field discharge map, you potentially get a more accurate picture, and this is a help in the major land conversion that is taking place in recent years," says Mathilde Ganderup Friedrichsen, senior consultant at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council.

Supports dialogue on land conversion

Danmarks Miljøportal plays a central role in the digital support of green tripartite, where authorities and stakeholders must identify and implement land conversions for the benefit of nature, climate and the environment.

"When data can have major consequences for agriculture, it should also be included so that the basis for decision-making is nuanced and we can have a more qualified dialogue about the green transition. SEGES' contribution is also an important step towards a more common data infrastructure, and we hope that they will share more in the future," says Inga Marie Galløe, special consultant at Danmarks Miljøportal.

For further information about the map, the work behind it and its use, read: New field discharge map provides a clearer picture of nitrogen emissions. The maps are available via the Danmarks Miljøportal's so-called 'data store', which can be accessed via a wide range of the Miljøportalens systems, e.g. Synergikort and Danmarks Arealinformation, and are used in decision-making processes.