Withers, PJA, Forber, KG, Lyon, C orcid.org/0000-0003-2319-2933 et al. (9 more authors) (2020) Towards resolving the phosphorus chaos created by food systems. Ambio, 49 (5). pp. 1076-1089. ISSN 0044-7447
Abstract
The chaotic distribution and dispersal of phosphorus (P) used in food systems (defined here as disorderly disruptions to the P cycle) is harming our environment beyond acceptable limits. An analysis of P stores and flows across Europe in 2005 showed that high fertiliser P inputs relative to productive outputs was driving low system P efficiency (38 % overall). Regional P imbalance (P surplus) and system P losses were highly correlated to total system P inputs and animal densities, causing unnecessary P accumulation in soils and rivers. Reducing regional P surpluses to zero increased system P efficiency (+ 16 %) and decreased total P losses by 35 %, but required a reduction in system P inputs of ca. 40 %, largely as fertiliser. We discuss transdisciplinary and transformative solutions that tackle the P chaos by collective stakeholder actions across the entire food value chain. Lowering system P demand and better regional governance of P resources appear necessary for more efficient and sustainable food systems.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. |
Keywords: | Efficiency; Eutrophication; Food system; Phosphorus; Stakeholders; Sustainability |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Civil Engineering (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BBSRC (Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council) BB/R005656/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 04 Sep 2019 13:56 |
Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2023 21:58 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Nature |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s13280-019-01255-1 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:150309 |
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