The debate on phosphorus continues in the Swedish magazine "Research & Progress" (= Forskning & Framsteg)
The latest qustion & answer is (in Swedish with an interesting graph) on this link:.http://fof.se/tidning/2015/9/artikel/alla-organismer-behover-fosfor
Once you are onto the F&F article you can click on earlier related artticles (also in Swedish)
Or you can read here my translation (w/OP the Graph)
Question: In the debate of phosphorus Morocco is mentioned as a future great power in this area.
How much of the world's phosphorus reserves are there and what does it mean for
our future?
Published:
2015-10-08
ENVIRONMENT
According to
calculations by the United States, US Geological Survey, Morocco has 75 percent
of the world's commercially-available phosphorus ore - 50 gigatons (50 billion
tons) - and may soon gain a monopoly. Right now it is an expanding industry in
Morocco to satisfy future needs worldwide. A dozen other countries also have
large commercial reserves, but of much smaller size. China has, for example,
5.5 percent of world reserves, Algeria 3.3, Syria 2.7 and the United States,
Russia, Jordan and South Africa about 2 percent each. Today, Europe needs to
import around 90 percent of its phosphorus fertilizers. Approximately one-third
already comes from Morocco.
Phosphorus. The distribution of the world's assets.
Sweden imports
phosphorus, primarily from Finland, which has Europe's only active phosphorus
mine. It is estimated, however, to only last 30-35 years. The commercial
reserves in China and the US runs out in 30-40 years, making these countries also
dependent on Morocco in the future. India is the world's largest importer of
phosphorus ore and has already made significant investments in Morocco. The US
and EU have also done so.
Phosphorus is an
essential nutrient that all living organisms need. Changes in supply can thus
limiting food production and create geopolitical conflicts. Therefore,
recycling of phosphorus from agricultural waste, food scraps, manure and sewage
sludge is critical to ensuring food security in the future.
/ Arno Rose Marin, a researcher at the Stockholm Environment
Institute
OBS! Phosphorus is a chemical element with symbol P and atomic number 15. Thus it is impossible to replace it with something else.
Phosphorus is essential to build DNA molecules. Serious genetic malfunction may result if food is deficient in phosphorus.
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