Shaping Change: Food Consumption Patterns and Reactive Nitrogen as a Policy Field in a Finite World

The excessive release of reactive nitrogen compounds into the environment is one of the biggest ecological problems of our time. The largest single source of nitrogen emissions is the agricultural sector, whereas livestock production chains are responsible for a high proportion of nitrogen losses. Changing meat consumption patterns is imperative for sustainable consumption. The topic polarises public opinion. We argue for the development of a mix of policy measures to promote environmentally compatible food consumption, with special emphasis on the (reduced) release of reactive nitrogen.