{
  "abstract": "Reactive nitrogen (N) inputs underpin global food production, but increasing protein provision while limiting agricultural N pressure remains a major sustainability challenge. Here, we analyzed changes in N use, cropland N surplus and protein supply across 130 countries from 1992 to 2022 to assess whether recurrent N-transition patterns emerge during agricultural and economic development. Countries followed divergent trajectories rather than converging toward a common N transition. Absolute decoupling, with increasing protein supply and declining cropland N surplus, occurred in 35.4% of countries, while others showed relative improvements or increasing N pressure. Cropland N surplus rose more steeply as agricultural N inputs intensified. Long-term trajectories revealed contrasting forms of N-system reorganization, from persistently lower-pressure systems to intensifying systems. Absolute decoupling occurred across diverse economic contexts and was not systematically associated with development level. Higher-development countries that decoupled generally reduced N surplus from higher starting levels but still ended with higher surpluses. Thus, increasing protein provision while reducing N surplus is achievable, but improvement does not necessarily imply convergence toward low N pressure.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of the Basque Country"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "A. Bozal-Leorri"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Corrochano-Monsalve"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9p86b4vbjrgq2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.03.749081",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749081v1.full",
  "id": "9p86b4vbjrgq2",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749081v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "systems biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2303|Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7210295435",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749081v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-03",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9p86b4vbjrgq2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:45Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.03.749081",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.749081v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:systems biology",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Divergent nitrogen transition pathways during global agricultural development",
  "title_text": "Divergent nitrogen transition pathways during global agricultural development",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9p86b4vbjrgq2",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}