Peak Phosphorus

[Sasha]

Re: China Throttles Rare Metals Which Power Our e-Gagets

Peak Phosphorus
Foreign Policy
APRIL 20, 2010 - It's an essential, if underappreciated component of our daily lives, and a key link in the global food chain. And it's running out.
See: ADAS scientist warns of looming phosphate shortage

Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Slate
July 13, 2010 - Plants need phosphorus in a form called phosphate, familiar to many of us from cherry or lime phosphates in old-fashioned soda shops. Living creatures use phosphates as the structural girder for DNA, and also in a molecule called ATP that provides the power to run cells. Human beings are 1 percent phosphorus by weight, and scientists have long known how important an element it is for health. Even with all the other problems of the Great Depression going on, FDR gave a speech warning America about the diminishing phosphorus in our food. Ninety percent of the phosphorus mined today (it's abundant in China, Morocco, Idaho, and Florida) ends up in fertilizer bags.

Unfortunately, erosion and runoff waste half of that phosphorus, as the phosphates end up scattered deep underground or chemically changed. So even though the phosphorus atoms never disappear, they're not available as fertilizer. Read more...