Experts have calculated the size of Australia’s nitrogen footprint.

Around 40 percent of the world’s population is fed by crops given a helping hand by nitrogen, but there could be too much of a good thing.

Nitrogen pollution cascades through the environment, running off into rivers, damaging coral reefs and exacting a toll on human health.

Australian researchers have for the first time calculated Australia's contribution to the global nitrogen problem, and the news is not good.

Despite the nation’s ‘clean and green’ image, Australia has the largest nitrogen footprint in both the food and energy sectors.

To take on the global nitrogen problem, United Nations Environment Programme has launched a new international management system to fight nitrogen pollution .

Like the IPCC does for climate science, the US$60 million International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) will collate the science on nitrogen and work towards better nitrogen policies and practice.

More information is available here.