Improved Phosphorus Use Could Secure 500-Year Stock, Boost Food Supply

Introduction

More efficient use of phosphorus could see limited stocks of the important fertilizer last more than 500 years and boost global food production to feed growing populations. However, these benefits will only happen if countries are less wasteful with how they use phosphorus, a study published today in Nature Food shows.

The Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The findings of this study align with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
4. SDG 15: Life on Land

Current Phosphorus Usage and Challenges

Around 30-40 per cent of farm soils have over-applications of phosphorus, with European and North American countries over-applying the most. The global population is due to hit nearly 10 billion by 2050, and it is estimated that to feed this increased population, a further 500 million hectares of arable land will be needed – unless phosphorus can be more efficiently used to boost and maintain crop yields.

Phosphorus Reserves and Sustainability

Listed as a critical raw material by the European Union, and recently a topic of discussion by the United Nations Environment Assembly, globally 20,500 kilotons of phosphorus are applied to agricultural soils each year as fertilizer. Concerns have been raised about its limited supply and loss to freshwater where it can degrade water quality. Phosphorus predominantly comes from mining phosphate rock sources, of which there are only a relatively small number of sources located in countries like Morocco and Russia.

Research Findings

Previous estimates of how much phosphorus we have left globally have varied greatly from between 30 to over 300 years. This latest research, looking at global phosphorus use and soil concentrations, by scientists at Lancaster University in the UK as well as AgResearch and Lincoln University in New Zealand, examined concentrations of phosphorus in farm soils across the globe for optimum growth of 28 major food crops from wheat and maize to rice and apples. The research revealed soils that did not contain enough phosphorus, and soils that contain concentrations higher than plants need for optimal growth.

Their findings shed new light on the amounts of phosphorus available in soils and needed as fertilizers and reveal that phosphorus reserves could last for up to 531 years if we use it more efficiently and equitably – that’s 77 years longer than if we stick with current practices.

Recommendations for Sustainable Phosphorus Use

Professor Phil Haygarth of Lancaster University and co-author of the paper said: “Phosphorus is an essential fertilizer that drives food production on farms around the world. It’s the ‘energy’ of agriculture that drives our food systems, but we need to manage our supplies carefully. We need to seek ways to be more efficient and sustainable with its use and our study shows that there’s considerable potential to improve the efficiency of how we use phosphorus fertilizers. We show it’s possible to optimize global food production without accelerating the depletion of precious and finite global phosphorus fertilizer reserves. We are unlikely to run out of phosphorus in the next 500 years, but only if we apply as much as needed to produce optimal crop yields and stop wasteful over-applications.”

The research team calculated 10,556 kt of phosphorus is wasted each year through over-application with much of that dominated by wheat and grassland in Europe and maize and rice in Asia.

Addressing Phosphorus Deficits

But it is not all about reductions. The scientists, using data for farmland globally, also calculated that around the world nearly three quarters of farmed soils are in phosphorus deficit – with phosphorus deficits being most acute in Asian countries such as India. As a result, the researchers calculate that globally there needs to be an application of almost 57,000 kt of phosphorus to alleviate those soils in deficit to boost crop yields.

They then calculated that 17,500 kt of phosphorus is needed each year to maintain optimum soil phosphorus concentrations. This would result in a global reduction in the demand for phosphorus by around 3,000 kt annually.

Policy Recommendations

Professor McDowell said: “The science is clear, but to use phosphorus efficiently and extend supplies, governments need to collaborate to make policy that promotes phosphorus use only where needed. That will involve balancing distributions of phosphorus for optimal crop growth and reducing subsidies that sustain overuse of phosphorus and likely cause water quality problems.”

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the importance of sustainable phosphorus use in achieving global food security and addressing environmental concerns. By implementing more efficient and equitable practices, phosphorus reserves could last for up to 531 years, significantly contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sources:

• Mirage.News
• Nature Food

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators
SDG 2: Zero Hunger	Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers	Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses	Indicator not mentioned in the article
SDG 15: Life on Land	Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world	Indicator not mentioned in the article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The issues highlighted in the article are related to food production, sustainable agriculture, and responsible consumption and production. These align with the goals of SDG 2, SDG 12, and SDG 15.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers (SDG 2)
• Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses (SDG 12)
• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world (SDG 15)

The article highlights the need for more efficient use of phosphorus in agriculture to boost global food production and address the growing population’s food needs. This aligns with the targets mentioned above.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

The article focuses more on the issue of phosphorus use and its potential impact on global food production and sustainability rather than providing specific indicators for measuring progress towards the targets.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: miragenews.com

 



Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.