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Phosphate shortage looms
12 Mar 2008
The rapid growth in food production could result in a shortage of phosphate within decades. Researchers have warned of critical shortages by 2040 if measures are not taken to use it more efficiently and recover it from human waste. Mineral phosphorous is mined in places such as Nauru, Christmas Island and Morocco and without it we cannot produce food. Mining has commenced at Mt Isa to replace declining supplies from the nearby islands but we still import around 75 per cent of our phosphate needs. Dana Cordell, researcher at the Institute of Sustainable Futures is working with people in Sweden to redesign toilets which would allow urine to be siphoned off and stored in tanks for sale to farmers.
The Australian, 12/3/2008
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