Abstract
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.
Funder
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Ecology,Environmental Chemistry,Geography, Planning and Development,General Medicine
Reference54 articles.
1. Abbott, B.W., F. Moatar, O. Gauthier, O. Fovet, V. Antoine, and O. Ragueneau. 2018. Trends and seasonality of river nutrients in agricultural catchments: 18 years of weekly citizen science in France. Science of the Total Environment 624: 845–858.
2. Abson, D.J., J. Fischer, J. Leventon, J. Newig, T. Schomerus, U. Vilsmaier, H. von Wehrden, P. Abernethy, et al. 2016. Leverage points for sustainability transformation. Ambio 46: 30–39.
3. Buckley, C., and P. Carney. 2013. The potential to reduce the risk of diffuse pollution from agriculture while improving economic performance at farm level. Environmental Science & Policy 25: 118–126.
4. Burch, D., and G. Lawrence. 2005. Supermarket own brands, supply chains and the transformation of the agri-food system. International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food 13: 1–18.
5. Campbell, B.M., D.J. Beare, E.M. Bennett, J.M. Hall-Spencer, J.S.I. Ingram, F. Jaramillo, R. Ortiz, N. Ramankutty, et al. 2017. Agriculture production as a major driver of the Earth system exceeding planetary boundaries. Ecology and Society 22: 8.
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09595-220408
.
Cited by
45 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献