Urgency to Understand Nitrogen Metabolism in Organic Agriculture

N fertilizers together with the development of high yielding varieties were major drivers of the enormous increase in crop productivity during the past 50 years. Despite increasing food production, application of higher nitrogen fertilizers in intensive agriculture also contributed in global warming. In context to environment there is increasing interest to breed crop varieties for organic agriculture. However, we know much about regulation of nitrogen metabolism in intensive agriculture as compared to organic agriculture. The current need and gaps in understanding of nitrogen metabolism in organic environment is discussed.