Smart nitrogen management  for European agriculture

Animation videos' credit: ESA/ATG Medialab

What is NitroScope

NitroScope is a four-year Horizon Europe project designed to establish the most extensive and integrated nitrogen monitoring network implemented to date in Europe. With +100 sites across more than 10 pedo-climatic regions, the project combines advanced sensing, modelling, and farmer-oriented digital tools to quantify nitrate concentrations and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions in real time. With the participation of 25 organisations from 15 countries, NitroScope translates scientific data into practical, region-specific solutions, enhancing fertilizer efficiency, mitigating nitrogen losses, supporting healthier soils, safeguarding water quality, and strengthening climate-resilient agricultural systems. As part of the EU Soil Mission, the project directly contributes to the ambitions and the objectives of Soil Deal for Europe.

Our mission is simple:

Turn science into practical solutions that cut nitrogen losses and build a more resilient agricultural future

Project numbers

Pilot Sites

Intensive monitoring sites

Regional data collection sites

Pedo-climatic regions

≥ 0

European countries

Pilot sites

Five pilot sites test improved nitrogen management and conservation strategies under real field conditions. Monitored over two growing seasons across different pedo-climatic zones, they link practices to impacts on NUE, crop performance and nitrogen losses.

Intensive monitoring sites

Nine intensive monitoring sites provide continuous 24/7 measurements over about 24 months, starting in February 2027, capturing short-term variability in nitrogen fluxes. They monitor soil nitrogen, gaseous emissions, soil conditions and crop dynamics to generate reference datasets and reduce modelling uncertainty.

Image credit: LI-COR

Regional Data Collection sites

Around 100 regional data collection sites ensure broad coverage of Europe’s soils, climates and cropping systems. Their harmonised, multi-season datasets support model calibration, regional comparison and upscaling to national and EU levels.