Phosphate-based fertilizers have helped spur agricultural gains in the past century, but the world may soon run out of them. Natasha Gilbert investigates the potential phosphate crisis.
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References
Rosemarin, A. Down to Earth June, 27-31 (2004)..
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries: Phosphate Rock (USGS, 2009).
IFDC Global Phosphate Reserves, Resources and Future Production (IFDC, 2008).
Vitousek, P. M. et al. Science 324, 1519-1520 (2009).
Additional information
Natasha Gilbert is a reporter based in Nature's London office.
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USGS Minerals report for phosphate with preliminary numbers for 2008 (pdf)
International Center for Soil Fertility & Agricultural Development
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Gilbert, N. Environment: The disappearing nutrient. Nature 461, 716–718 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/461716a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/461716a
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