The data reflect Spain’s compliance with the commitment set out in the National Emission Ceilings directive and with the improvement of the sustainability of livestock production.
The Spanish livestock sector reduced ammonia emissions by 2.3% in 2024 compared to the previous year, and has now accumulated a 17.6% decrease compared to 2005, the year used as a reference in the National Emission Ceilings Directive.
This improvement is a result of reductions of 14.9% in manure management and 2.1% in the application of organic fertilizers, which includes emissions from grazing livestock.
In total, ammonia emissions in Spain have been reduced by 13% over 20 years, between 2005 and 2024. For the fourth consecutive year, Spain has met its reduction commitments under the aforementioned directive and has achieved a reduction four times greater than that required for any year in the 2020-2030 period.
The data are collected in the Spanish Emissions Inventory System (SEI), published in the 2026 edition of the National Inventory of Atmospheric Pollutants, corresponding to the 1990-2024 series, which incorporates information on nitrogen balance and the implementation of Best Available Techniques (BATs) in the intensive pig and poultry sectors. This information is collected in the Ecogan computerized system, individually for each farm, reported by the owners and subsequently notified by the Autonomous Communities to the Ministry.
Improvements made to the Ecogan computerized system, together with the efforts of livestock farmers and the competent authorities of the Autonomous Communities, have allowed for more precise information to be reported to the Spanish Inventory System regarding the emission reduction techniques applied at the national level and their impact on the calculation of livestock emissions. In this way, Spain has one of the most advanced farm emissions estimation systems, which reflects the efforts made by all parties to achieve more environmentally sustainable livestock production.
