Another "Towel of Babel" challenge

Loss of biodiversity and global warming are a couple of familiar examples of global environmental challenges that require the collaborative effort of everyone--kind of like building the Towel of Babel. A review of global nitrogen cycles from the most recent Science highlighted another challenge. The figure above is N contained in internationally traded (A) fertilizer (31 Tg N), (B) grain (12 Tg N), and (C) meat (0.8 Tg N). The authors' conclusion:

"Much anthropogenic nitrogen is lost to air, water, and land to cause a cascade of environmental and human health problems. Simultaneously, food production in some parts of the world is nitrogen-deficient, highlighting inequities in the distribution of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Optimizing the need for a key human resource while minimizing its negative consequences requires an integrated interdisciplinary approach and the development of strategies to decrease nitrogen-containing waste."

P.S. Australia imported fertilizer from China and then shipped grain and meat back.