Withers, Paul J. A. and Forber, Kirsty G. and Lyon, Christopher and Rothwell, Shane and Doody, Donnacha G. and Jarvie, Helen P. and Martin-Ortega, Julia and Jacobs, Brent and Cordell, Dana and Patton, Myles and Camargo-Valero, Miller A. and Cassidy, Rachel (2020) Towards resolving the phosphorus chaos created by food systems. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 49 (5). pp. 1076-1089. ISSN 1654-7209
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
The chaotic distribution and dispersal of phosphorus (P) used in food systems (defined here as disorderly disruptions to the P cycle) is harming our environment beyond acceptable limits. An analysis of P stores and flows across Europe in 2005 showed that high fertiliser P inputs relative to productive outputs was driving low system P efficiency (38 % overall). Regional P imbalance (P surplus) and system P losses were highly correlated to total system P inputs and animal densities, causing unnecessary P accumulation in soils and rivers. Reducing regional P surpluses to zero increased system P efficiency (+ 16 %) and decreased total P losses by 35 %, but required a reduction in system P inputs of ca. 40 %, largely as fertiliser. We discuss transdisciplinary and transformative solutions that tackle the P chaos by collective stakeholder actions across the entire food value chain. Lowering system P demand and better regional governance of P resources appear necessary for more efficient and sustainable food systems.