Science for Environment Policy IN-DEPTH REPORT: Sustainable Phosphorus Use October 2013 Issue 7 Environment Science for Environment Policy This In-depth Report is written and edited by the Science Sustainable Phosphorus Use Communication Unit, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol Email: [email protected] To cite this publication: Science Communication Unit, University of the West of Contents England, Bristol (2013). Science for Environment Policy In- depth Report: Sustainable Phosphorus Use. Report produced for Executive summary 3 the European Commission DG Environment, October 2013. Available at: Introduction 5 http://ec.europa.eu/science-environment-policy 1. Drivers of phosphorus consumption 6 2. Pressures on the environment 9 Acknowledgements 3. State of phosphorus in the environment 17 We wish to thank Kimo van Dijk MSc, Researcher Nutrient Management and Phosphorus Security, Department Soil 4. Impacts of phosphorus consumption 27 Quality, Wageningen University. Netherlands; Dr. Lars 5. Possible responses to improve Stoumann Jensen, Professor in Plant Nutrition, Biological sustainability of phosphorus 33 Soil Fertility and Recycling of Manure and Organic Waste, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Dr 6. Conclusion 49 Christian Kabbe, Berlin Centre of Competence for Water, References 52 Berlin, Germany; and Arno Rosemarin, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute; for their input to this report. Final responsibility for the content and accuracy of the report, however, lies solely with the author. Images Page 3: © istockphoto.com/HeikeKampe; Page 5, Figures 1 and 2: Pellerin S. et al. (2013); Page 7, Figure 3. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2011) Yearbook; Page 9, Figure 4. Van Dijk et al. (2013); Page 10, Figure 5. Van Dijk, K et al. (2013); Page 10, Figure 6. Arno Rosemarin. (2013); Page 11, Figure 7, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS); PotashCorp. (2011); Page 11, Table 1. Jasinski S., (2013); Page 12, Figure 8. Source: The About Science for Environment Policy Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). (2012); Page 15, Table 2. Adapted is a free news from Schröder et al. (2010); Page 16, Figure 9. Schröder et al. (2010); Page 17, Science for Environment Policy and information service published by the European Figure 10. Source: Van Dijk, K. et al. (2013); Page 18, Table 3. Adapted from Commission’s Directorate-General Environment, Liu et al.; Page 18, Table 4. Adapted from Clift, R. & Shaw, H. (2012); Page 18, which provides the latest environmental policy- Figure 11. Source: Clift, R. & Shaw, H. (2012); Page 22, Figure 12. Cooper, J. relevant research findings. & Carliell-Marquet, C. (2013); Page 22, Figure 13. Source: Antikainen, R., et al. (2004); Page 24, Figure 14. Source: Van Dijk, et al. (2013); Page 25, Figure In-depth Reports are a feature of the service 15. Cordell, D., et al (2012); Page 28, Figure 16. Rosemarin A., (2013); Page which provide comprehensive overviews of 29, Figure 17. European Environment Agency, (2012); Page 31, Figure 18. The scientific research relevant to a specific policy Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). (2012); Page 36, Figure 19. C. area. In addition to In-depth Reports, Science Kabbe & R. Mancke. (2013a); Page 37, Figure 20. Van Dijk, et al. (2013); Page for Environment Policy also publishes a weekly 39, Figure 21. Source: Kabbe, C. (2013b)l Page 41, Figure 22. Source: Kabbe, News Alert which is delivered by email to subscribers and provides accessible summaries C. & R. Mancke; Page 44, Figure 23 and Page 45, Figure 24. Source: Van Dijk, of key scientific studies. K. (2013); Page 51, Figure 25. Source: Pellerin, S., et al. (2013b); Page 51, Figure 26. Source: Kabbe, C. (2013a). http://ec.europa.eu/science-environment-policy Keep up-to-date Subscribe to Science for Environment Policy’s weekly News Alert by emailing: [email protected] The contents and views included in Science for Environment Policy are based on independent Or sign up online at: research and do not necessarily reflect the position http://ec.europa.eu/science-environment-policy of the European Commission. SUSTAINABLE PHOSPHORUS USE 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Sustainable Phosphorus Use This In-depth Report provides an overview of the current state of scientific knowledge on the phosphorus challenge and research on the sustainable use of this important element. There are clear, well-documented reasons for more sustainable use of phosphorus across the EU and globally. We know that phosphorus is an essential and finite resource with no substitute. We also know that the EU is reliant on imports and, as good quality sources of phosphorus diminish, we will become increasingly dependent on phosphorus reserves that are less accessible and more polluted with toxic elements, such as cadmium and uranium. An algal bloom in a lake. If excess phosphorus reaches water bodies, the growth of algal blooms may be triggered, which can deplete water-borne oxygen and release toxic compounds. Although we are not certain of the magnitude and the environment, have indicated that we waste large of phosphorus reserves, we do know they are amounts, both globally and at an EU level. concentrated in a few countries. It is estimated that Morocco has the largest continental reserves There is also scientific evidence of the negative impacts of phosphorus and these reserves are also amongst of phosphorus on the environment. Past excessive use those with high levels of cadmium. of fertiliser and intensification of livestock farming mean that phosphorus has been running off the land Developments in industry, agriculture, waste and polluting water bodies. Wastewater from our sewage handling and lifestyle have massively reduced the systems also contains phosphorus from the food and capacity for phosphorus to be cycled effectively by detergents we have consumed and, depending on the society and the environment via natural geological effectiveness of wastewater treatment, this can reach processes. The major source of phosphorus used rivers, seas and oceans. Eutrophication, algal blooms in fertiliser is phosphate rock, which we mine in and dead zones have been observed in parts of the EU vast quantities, more than can be replaced by the from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea, as well as slow geological cycle. Instead of being recycled, more globally. phosphorus moves linearly from its application on land to its consumption on the plate and, There are also known negative environmental impacts at nearly every stage, there are losses. Scientific from mining, the processing of mineral fertiliser and the analyses of phosphorus flows, which study the increasing level of pollutants within the fertiliser itself, amounts of phosphorus moving through society such as cadmium and uranium. SUSTAINABLE PHOSPHORUS USE 4 Although we cannot turn back the clock, we can improve the The Netherlands has already developed greater cooperation between sustainable use of phosphorus and there is increasing knowledge on industry, science and policy in the Dutch Nutrient Platform, which the methods and technologies with which to do this. These range from brings together private companies, NGOs and academic institutions the low-hanging fruits of efficient farming techniques, to the more to contribute to the transition to more sustainable use of nutrients1. technologically-intensive recovery of phosphorus from wastewater. A similar platform concept has been introduced at a larger scale in Simply, there needs to be a choice between the options or combinations the European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform, which is an initiative of options, to provide an economically feasible solution. of joint European forerunners2. Such platforms and initiatives can also bring together research that is scattered across sectors, such as Again, here we have scientific knowledge and practical experience to agriculture, water, waste, environment and industry. inform decisions. Analyses of phosphorus flows not only give us the tools to identify where major losses occur, but help us evaluate the Alongside this, the EU has produced its Consultative Communication3 impact of different options and decisions to curb these losses. There is a on the Sustainable Use of Phosphorus, which aims to launch a significant amount of research on the effectiveness of various methods debate on phosphorus use and ways to make it more efficient. More to recover phosphorus, but we need more information on their real- harmonisation is also needed in data collection and research, which world feasibility. Evaluation is necessary but this requires the initiation can be integrated in the Horizon 2020 framework. The analysis of of more projects in the first place. Good examples of large-scale real- phosphorus flows through the society and identification of where life evaluations include those being undertaken by the P-Rex project, major losses occur is useful in deciding where action can be taken and which aims to bridge academic knowledge and practical application comparing different options. to demonstrate and assess options for full-scale phosphorus recovery. However, in order to inform these decisions effectively, better data are Although the technology and amount of research is growing, successful needed, alongside harmonisation of methods for making meaningful implementation of initiatives promoting sustainable phosphorus use comparisons between crops, river basins, regions, countries and options will require policy support and legislation to encourage