Key sustainability challenges for the global phosphorus resource, their implications for global food security, and options for mitigation

Abstract

Global food security is a priority for the future development agenda of the United Nations. Given the high dependence of the modern global food production system on the continuous supply of commercial phosphorus (P) fertilizers, the goal of achieving global food security could be hampered by any form of paucity of the global P resource. P is a finite, non-substitutable, non-renewable, and geographically restricted resource. The anthropogenic influences on this critical resource are likely to pose a number of challenges to its sustainability. Based on an in-depth and systematic review of recently published literature, this study presents a detailed, methodical, and up to date assessment of th..