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Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/S009019/1

GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub

Grant Award

Principal Investigator:
Professor MA Sutton, NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr A Anik, Bangabandhu S Mujibur Rahman Agri Univ, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Professor AD Dangour, London Sch of Hygiene & Tropic. Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Health
Co-Investigator:
Professor L Grant, University of Edinburgh, Centre of Population Health Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor A AHMAD, Aligarh Muslim University, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr A Gathorne-Hardy, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor P Shewry, Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Soils and Crops
Co-Investigator:
Professor K Dahal, Tribhuvan University, Inst of Agriculture and Animal Science
Co-Investigator:
Dr CJ Ellis, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi
Co-Investigator:
Dr A Naseer, The Maldives National University, Research Centre
Co-Investigator:
Dr E Nemitz, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr Z Safi, University of Kabul, Earth Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Dr H PATHAK, ICAR - National Rice Res Inst (NRRI), Crop Production
Co-Investigator:
Dr G Beig, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Physical Meteorology and Aerology
Co-Investigator:
Professor AW Tudhope, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor TK Adhya, KIIT University, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr U Dragosits, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr s s bandyopadhyay, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Environmental Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Dr U N Naher, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr S Mohamed, The Maldives National University, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Professor B Rees, SRUC, Research
Co-Investigator:
Professor J Smith, University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
Co-Investigator:
Dr J Hillier, University of Edinburgh, Roslin Institute
Co-Investigator:
Dr A Ganesan, University of Bristol, Geographical Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Dr D Jena, KIIT University, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Professor T Iqbal, University of Rajshahi, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr S Tripathy, KIIT University, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr C Howard, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Professor M Suar, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technolo, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr C Barnes, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
Co-Investigator:
Mrs A Shazly, The Maldives National University, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Professor S Reis, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr M Rahman, Bangabandhu S Mujibur Rahman Agri Univ, Soil Science
Co-Investigator:
Professor A Price, University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
Co-Investigator:
Professor R Jeffery, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Social and Political Science
Co-Investigator:
Professor T Misselbrook, Rothamsted Research, Net Zero and Resilient Farming
Co-Investigator:
Dr N Jain, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Environmental Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor DS Reay, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
Co-Investigator:
Mr D Tshering, Royal University of Bhutan, Sherubtse College
Co-Investigator:
Dr J Drewer, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr S Sharma, Kathmandu University, Research
Co-Investigator:
Professor M Pinnawala, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Social Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Dr VA Bell, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Hydro-climate Risks
Co-Investigator:
Dr D Subrahmanyam, Indian Council of Agri Research (ICAR), UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Prof. I Allen, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
Co-Investigator:
Dr A Wakeel, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Professor N Dise, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr T Pellny, Rothamsted Research, Plant Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor RN SUBUDHI, KIIT University, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr V Eory, SRUC, Research
Co-Investigator:
Dr PJ Skuce, Moredun Research Institute, Vaccines and Diagnostics
Co-Investigator:
Professor R Nandula, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha Uni, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:
Dr A Bhatia, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Environmental Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor P Smith, University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
Co-Investigator:
Dr SC Painter, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
Co-Investigator:
Professor J Holt, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
Co-Investigator:
Dr P Ramachandran, NCSCM (Nat Ctr Sustainable Coastal Mgnt), Head Office
Co-Investigator:
Dr M Vieno, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr LM Cardenas, Rothamsted Research, Net Zero and Resilient Farming
Co-Investigator:
Dr S S CHATTERJEE, TERI University, Faculty of Policy and Planning
Co-Investigator:
Professor S P Nissanka, University of Peradeniya, Agricultural Economics & Business Manage
Co-Investigator:
Professor S Brandani, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Engineering
Co-Investigator:
Dr R Singh, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Environmental Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor D Stevenson, University of Edinburgh, Sch of Geosciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor R RAMACHANDRAN, NCSCM (Nat Ctr Sustainable Coastal Mgnt), Head Office
Co-Investigator:
Professor UME Skiba, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects
Co-Investigator:
Dr M Bowes, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Water Resources (Wallingford)
Co-Investigator:
Dr T Aziz, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, UNLISTED
Science Area:
None
Overall Classification:
Unknown
ENRIs:
None
Science Topics:
Agricultural systems
Soil science
Land - Atmosphere Interactions
Coral reefs
Ecosystem function
Conservation Ecology
Abstract:
Humans have massively altered flows of nitrogen on our planet, leading to both benefits for food production and multiple threats to the environment. There are few places on Earth more affected than South Asia, with levels of nitrogen pollution rapidly increasing. The result is a web of interlinked problems, as nitrogen losses from agriculture and from fossil fuel combustion cause air and water pollution. This damages human health, threatens biodiversity of forests and rivers, and leads to coastal and marine pollution that exacerbates the effects of climate change, such as by predisposing reefs to coral bleaching. Altogether, it is clear that nitrogen pollution is something we should be taking very seriously. The amazing thing is that so few people have heard of the problem. Everyone knows about climate change and carbon footprints, but how many people are aware that nitrogen pollution is just as significant? One reason for this is that scientists and policy makers have traditionally specialised. Different experts have focused on different parts of the nitrogen story, and few have the expertise to see how all the issues fit together. This challenge is taken up by a major new research hub established under the UK Global Challenge Research Fund. The "GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub" is a partnership that brings together 32 leading research organisations with project engagement partners from the UK and South Asia. All eight countries of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) are included. The hub includes research on how to improve nitrogen management in agriculture, saving money on fertilizers and making better use of manure, urine and natural nitrogen fixation processes. It highlights options for more profitable and cleaner farming for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives. At the same time, the hub considers how nitrogen pollution could be turned back to fertilizer, for example by capturing nitrogen oxide gas from factories and converting it into nitrate. The fact that all the SACEP countries are included is really important. It means that lessons can be shared on good experiences as well as on whether there are cultural, economic and environmental differences that prevent better management practices from being adopted. It is also important from the perspective of international diplomacy, and provides an example to demonstrate how working together on a common problem is in everyone's interest. It puts the focus on future cooperation for a healthier planet, rather than on the past. The South Asian case provides for some exciting scientific, social, cultural and economic research challenges. The first is simply to get all the researchers talking together and understanding each other. There are dozens of languages in South Asia, matching the challenge met when different research disciplines come together. This is where developing a shared language around nitrogen can really help. There are lots of nitrogen forms ranging from unreactive atmospheric nitrogen (N2), to the air pollutants ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), to nitrate (NO3-) which contaminates watercourses, and nitrous oxide (N2O) which is a greenhouse gas. The impacts of each of these are being studied to provide a better understanding of how they all fit together. The result is an approach that aims to give a much more coherent picture of the nitrogen cycle in South Asia: What is stopping us from taking action, and what can be done about it. One of the big expectations is that the economic value of nitrogen will help. India alone spends around #6 billion per year subsidising fertilizer supply. It means that South Asian governments are strongly motivated to use nitrogen better. At which point research from the South Asian hub can provide guidance on where they might start.
Period of Award:
13 Feb 2019 - 30 Nov 2019
Value:
£17,534,969
Authorised funds only
NERC Reference:
NE/S009019/1
Grant Stage:
Completed
Scheme:
RCUK
Grant Status:
Closed
Programme:
18GCRFHubsFull

This grant award has a total value of £17,534,969  

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FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)

DI - Other CostsException - Other CostsIndirect - Indirect CostsDA - InvestigatorsDI - StaffDA - Estate CostsDA - Other Directly AllocatedDI - T&S
£660,137£8,375,812£2,757,948£617,050£3,208,080£1,255,154£37,093£623,696

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