Nutrient management for integrating productivity and environmental concerns – framework of a joint China–Norway research initiative

Efficient plant nutrition and good agronomical practices are essential to meet future challenges in agriculture, while high land productivity is an obvious measure to integrate food security and environment protection. However, nutrient management in agriculture, including fertilizer applications and issues linked to nutrient losses, are highly complex due to multidimensional variability. Thus, robust systems of measurements and documentation, including planning, are required in order to support decision-making. Meanwhile skills, competence, and capacities at the farm level represent the key prerequisites for managing the multiple challenges in agriculture and in global food production. This is valid both for Chinese and Norwegian circumstances and constitutes the conceptual framework of a joint research initiative.