The indicator describes ammonia (NH₃) emissions into the atmosphere produced by the agricultural sector, mainly due to livestock management and fertilizer use. It enables the assessment of the sector's contribution to total national emissions and the achievement of reduction targets.

In 2022, the agricultural sector was responsible for emitting 317.25 kt of NH₃ into the atmosphere, accounting for 90.4% of total national emissions.

The trend in NH₃ emissions is consistent with the targets set by the Gothenburg Protocol and the National Emission Ceiling Directive (NEC Directive). The national reduction target for 2022 has been achieved.

Bees, pollen, and other beekeeping matrices provide important information about the state of the environment, particularly in relation to chemical contamination from plant protection products (pesticides). Laboratory analyses can detect active substances from these products on the bees' bodies and in the pollen they collect during their flights in treated areas.

ISPRA has long been involved in research and monitoring activities aimed at identifying the possible factors and causes of honey bee colony mortality, including those related to agricultural practices involving the use of pesticides, especially in natural and agriculturally intensive areas.

The data collected suggest a fluctuating trend around an annual average of several dozen bee mortality cases, often with the detection of active pesticide ingredients on the bees or in other beekeeping matrices.

The indicator refers to carbon stock, i.e., the amount of carbon stored in Italy across the different forest carbon pools, and to the variation in carbon stock (carbon sink), which accounts for both the carbon sequestered and the emissions released due to wildfires, harvesting, and natural mortality within national forest ecosystems.

Carbon stock and carbon sink are effective indicators for assessing the condition of a country’s forest resources, as they are influenced by forest productivity and, negatively, by both natural and anthropogenic disturbances (such as fires, logging, pests and pathogens, natural mortality, etc.).

Carbon stocks in Italian forests are increasing, indicating a net positive balance between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals (carbon sink). This trend is partially driven by conservation and forest protection policies and, on the other hand, by a decrease in harvested timber volumes due to complex economic and social factors.

Emissions from forest fires remain a significant concern. The trend of the national carbon sink over the period 1990–2022 has been heavily affected by a reduction in GHG removals associated with areas burned annually. The impact of biomass loss from large-scale wildfires in 1990, 1993, 2007, and 2017 is particularly evident in the carbon sink trend.

This highlights the critical role of wildfires in shaping the contribution of national forests to the global carbon cycle.

The indicator analyses the capacity of the national agricultural sector to stimulate economic growth while simultaneously reducing environmental pressures and impacts. The purpose of the indicator is to measure the eco-efficiency of agriculture, that is, its ability to decouple economic growth factors from increasing environmental pressures and impacts.

The evolution of the variables shows a positive trend in the eco-efficiency of Italian agriculture over the analysis period (2000–2022). This is evident when comparing the performance of the economic variable (represented by the value added at basic prices) with the trend of environmental pressures, which have all decreased compared to the base year (2000) — with the exception of irrigated areas — although not all reductions have been substantial (e.g. energy use).

The indicator describes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (CH₄, N₂O, CO₂) released into the atmosphere by the agricultural sector, mainly due to livestock management and fertilizer use. It allows for the assessment of the sector’s contribution to total national emissions and the achievement of emission reduction targets.

Since 1990, greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector have shown a decreasing trend; however, further mitigation measures will be necessary to meet the targets established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and relevant European directives.

Specifically, Italy’s target for 2030 under the Effort Sharing Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/857) is a -43.7% reduction in total GHG emissions from agriculture, buildings, transport, waste, and industrial installations not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS), compared to 2005 levels.

In 2022, GHG emissions from agriculture accounted for a relatively small share (11.2%) of total emissions from sectors covered by the Effort Sharing Regulation, while emissions from agriculture decreased by 12.2% compared to 2005.

Information on the population of the main livestock species of zootechnical interest, extracted from the National Livestock Database (Banca Dati Nazionale – BDN) managed by the Ministry of Health through the National Service Centre (Centro Servizi Nazionale – CSN) at the "G. Caporale" Institute in Teramo, includes data on livestock operators, facilities, and individual animals. These data are jointly provided by Veterinary Services and Livestock Breeders' Associations. For harmonised assessment purposes, livestock numbers have been converted into LSU (Livestock Standard Units).

Data collected for 2023—the most recent complete year available for the main species considered—show a significant decline in the ovine and caprine populations (-8.1% compared to 2018) and an increase in buffalo numbers (+9.6%). In terms of total LSU, the overall trend remains largely stable, as internal changes among livestock species offset one another.

Specifically, the most representative livestock categories in terms of LSU on the national territory—swine and poultry—recorded increases of +3.9% and +2.2%, respectively, while the bovine population showed a decrease of 2.3%.