Inventory of Good Practices of Sustainable and Circular Phosphorus Management in the Visegrad Group (V4)

Abstract

The most important raw material needed for food production is phosphorus (P), which cannot be replaced by other elements. P is listed as a Critical Raw Material (CRM) for the European Union (EU). It is an element essential for human nutrition and is used for fertiliser production. The key importance of P for human life is evidenced by the fact that if there were not enough P in fertilisers, we would only be able to feed 1/3 of the world’s population. Unfortunately, in Visegrad Group (V4) countries, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary, there is a lack of mineral deposits of phosphate rock. Therefore, there is a strong need to cover the demand for the P by importing from countries of varying stability, both economic and political, such as Russia, China, or Morocco. It is risky; if the borders for deliveries of goods are closed, it may be impossible to meet the needs of P. On the other hand, V4 countries have large secondary P resources in P-rich waste, which are lost due to P is not recovered on an industrial scale. The paper presents the importance of P raw materials in V4, the revision of primary and secondary P sources that can be used in agricultural systems, as well as the structure of import and export of P raw materials in these countries. In addition, examples of good phosphorus recovery practices in the V4 countries are presented. They include a list of initiatives dedicated to the sustainable management of P resources, and examples of P recovery projects. Implementation of P recovery for internal P-rich waste in V4 could ensure the safety of food production in this region. Such and similar initiatives may contribute to faster independence of the V4 countries from the import of P raw materials.