Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards resolving the phosphorus chaos created by food systems
AU - Withers, Paul J. A.
AU - Forber, Kirsty G.
AU - Lyon, Christopher
AU - Rothwell, Shane
AU - Doody, Donnacha G.
AU - Jarvie, Helen P.
AU - Martin-Ortega, Julia
AU - Jacobs, Brent
AU - Cordell, Dana
AU - Patton, Myles
AU - Camargo-Valero, Miller A.
AU - Cassidy, Rachel
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1007/s13280-019-01255-1
DO - 10.1007/s13280-019-01255-1
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31542888
VL - 49
SP - 1076
EP - 1089
JO - AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
JF - AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
SN - 1654-7209
IS - 5
ER -