Policies to reduce nitrogen surplus in German agriculture

The article focuses on a concept for the creation and evaluation of environmental policy measures. Based on this concept two policy strategies which aim to reduce nitrogen emission from agriculture for spatial resource protection are developed. The strategies are firstly an EU-wide limitation of nitrogen balance surpluses per hectare, and secondly an increase in mineral fertilizer prices plus regional livestock unit limitation. Because of its low costs of administration and control, the authors favour an early introduction of the component ‘regional livestock unit limitation’. If the impacts of this measure do not lead to a sufficient reduction of nitrogen emissions an ‘increase in mineral fertilizer prices’ should be added.