U of G Researcher Leads National Effort to Reduce Nitrous Oxide, Major Source of Canada’s Emissions

Laughing gas – or nitrous oxide (N2O) – is no laughing matter.  

A potent greenhouse gas, N2O stays in the atmosphere for over 100 years, where one kilogram warms the planet about 300 times more than an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. It is emitted from the use of nitrogen fertilizer and now accounts for one-third of Canada’s agricultural emissions.

That proportion grows every year. 

A new research network, CANN2ONET, will gather leading nitrogen experts to find ways to reduce Canada’s emissions of N2O, with new funding from the NSERC-SSHRC Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative. It spans several universities and colleges across Canada, as well as partners from industry, government and producer organizations.

Leading the network is University of Guelph professor Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle at the School of Environmental Sciences within the Ontario Agricultural College. Though N2O is rarely considered by farmers, she says, its impact must be better understood to mitigate climate change and work towards sustainable agriculture.  

“What’s unique about CANN2ONET is that we’re bringing together a variety of experts, those who study emissions, farmer behaviour and can recommend new policies,” Wagner-Riddle says. “With all these partners, we can improve agriculture production and provide information that farmers need to better manage their nitrogen and quantify the level of sustainability.”

The network is delighted to have support from the federal government and partners from the agricultural sector. 

Awarded $7.9 million over four years, the project is part of a federal investment to support research projects that are accelerating solutions towards sustainable agriculture. Funding was announced by François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, and Lawrence MacAulay, minister of agriculture and agri-food.

Several other U of G researchers are involved as co-applicants in five other projects also granted funding under the Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative.