The Spanish livestock sector has reduced its ammonia emissions

The Spanish livestock sector reduced its ammonia emissions by 2.3% in 2024 compared to the previous year, accumulating a 17.6% decrease since 2005, the reference year for the National Emission Ceilings Directive, according to the latest data from the Spanish Emissions Inventory System (SEI). This improvement is explained by a 14.9% reduction in emissions associated with manure management and a 2.1% reduction in those linked to the application of organic fertilizers, including emissions from grazing livestock.

Across Spain, ammonia emissions, including sources other than livestock farming, have decreased by 13% between 2005 and 2024. Spain has thus met its reduction commitment established in European regulations for the fourth consecutive year and, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has achieved a reduction four times greater than that required for any year in the 2020-2030 period.

The National Inventory of Air Pollutants incorporates information on nitrogen balance and the implementation of Best Available Techniques (BAT) in intensive pig and poultry farming. This data is collected individually for each farm through the Ecogan computerized system, based on information reported by farmers and subsequently notified by the regional governments.

According to the ministry, the improvements introduced in Ecogan, together with the information provided by farmers and regional administrations, allow for a more precise understanding of the emission reduction techniques applied on farms and reflect their impact on the calculation of livestock emissions.

In contrast to the evolution of the livestock sector, ammonia emissions associated with the use of nitrogen fertilizers increased in 2024, mainly due to higher consumption, especially of urea. This increase followed two years of lower usage due to the higher cost of fertilizers after the start of the war in Ukraine and the severe drought of 2023. Despite the 2024 increase, the ministry indicates that Spain's target of reducing ammonia emissions by 16% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels is not at risk.