Managing nitrogen for sustainable development is critical for addressing food security, environmental degradation, and climate change. The study analyzes historical patterns of agricultural nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in 113 countries, revealing a wide range of development pathways and related pollution. It estimates NUE and yield targets needed to meet global food demand and environmental goals by 2050. Socio-economic policies and technological innovations are discussed as key to achieving these targets. Nitrogen fertilizers, made possible by the Haber-Bosch process, have enabled increased crop production but also caused environmental issues like eutrophication and climate change. Improving NUE is essential to reduce environmental impacts while increasing productivity. The study finds that N pollution follows a pattern similar to the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), where pollution first increases and then decreases with economic growth. However, the turning point varies by country and is influenced by socio-economic factors, policies, and technological advancements. The study shows that global NUE needs to increase from ~0.4 to ~0.7 by 2050 to meet food security and environmental goals. Countries like the USA and France have already seen reductions in N surplus, while China and India are still in the early stages of the EKC. The study highlights the importance of crop mix, fertilizer to crop price ratios, and socio-economic factors in achieving NUE improvements. Meeting the 2050 food demand requires significant increases in NUE, with global crop yields expected to rise from 74 to 107 Tg N yr⁻¹. The study suggests that NUE targets could be set for individual crops, such as improving the global average for fruits and vegetables from 0.14 to 0.40. Achieving these targets requires technological innovations, improved management practices, and socio-economic policies that encourage sustainable nitrogen use. The study also emphasizes the need for global and national goals for nitrogen use in crop production, as well as the importance of monitoring progress through data collection and analysis. It calls for cross-disciplinary partnerships and policies that support sustainable agricultural practices, including improved nutrient management, technology transfer, and international collaboration. The study concludes that while there is hope for reducing nitrogen pollution through improved efficiencies, continued progress is necessary to achieve the projected 2050 goals of food security and environmental stewardship.Managing nitrogen for sustainable development is critical for addressing food security, environmental degradation, and climate change. The study analyzes historical patterns of agricultural nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in 113 countries, revealing a wide range of development pathways and related pollution. It estimates NUE and yield targets needed to meet global food demand and environmental goals by 2050. Socio-economic policies and technological innovations are discussed as key to achieving these targets. Nitrogen fertilizers, made possible by the Haber-Bosch process, have enabled increased crop production but also caused environmental issues like eutrophication and climate change. Improving NUE is essential to reduce environmental impacts while increasing productivity. The study finds that N pollution follows a pattern similar to the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), where pollution first increases and then decreases with economic growth. However, the turning point varies by country and is influenced by socio-economic factors, policies, and technological advancements. The study shows that global NUE needs to increase from ~0.4 to ~0.7 by 2050 to meet food security and environmental goals. Countries like the USA and France have already seen reductions in N surplus, while China and India are still in the early stages of the EKC. The study highlights the importance of crop mix, fertilizer to crop price ratios, and socio-economic factors in achieving NUE improvements. Meeting the 2050 food demand requires significant increases in NUE, with global crop yields expected to rise from 74 to 107 Tg N yr⁻¹. The study suggests that NUE targets could be set for individual crops, such as improving the global average for fruits and vegetables from 0.14 to 0.40. Achieving these targets requires technological innovations, improved management practices, and socio-economic policies that encourage sustainable nitrogen use. The study also emphasizes the need for global and national goals for nitrogen use in crop production, as well as the importance of monitoring progress through data collection and analysis. It calls for cross-disciplinary partnerships and policies that support sustainable agricultural practices, including improved nutrient management, technology transfer, and international collaboration. The study concludes that while there is hope for reducing nitrogen pollution through improved efficiencies, continued progress is necessary to achieve the projected 2050 goals of food security and environmental stewardship.