Towards global phosphorus security: a systems framework for phosphorus recovery and reuse options

The document argues that global phosphorus security requires a shift from viewing phosphorus recovery solely as a pollution control measure to a necessity for food security. It advocates for a systems-based approach to recover phosphorus from all waste streams—including human and animal excreta and food and crop wastes—to replace depleting phosphate rock reserves.

• Human activity has moved nearly 500 million tonnes of phosphorus from phosphate rock into the hydrosphere over the last 50 years, primarily driving phosphorus recovery efforts as a means to combat water pollution.
• Phosphorus scarcity now poses a threat to future food security, necessitating the recovery of phosphorus for use as fertilizer to substitute for phosphate rock, which is becoming more expensive and scarce.
• Achieving phosphorus security requires a multi-faceted approach that combines increased use efficiency with the recovery of phosphorus from all waste streams across the food production and consumption system, including crop wastes and human and animal excreta.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2011). Towards global phosphorus security: a systems framework for phosphorus recovery and reuse options. https://www.sei.org/publications/towards-global-phosphorus-security-a-systems-framework-for-phosphorus-recovery-and-reuse-options/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Towards global phosphorus security: a systems framework for phosphorus recovery and reuse options. 2011. https://www.sei.org/publications/towards-global-phosphorus-security-a-systems-framework-for-phosphorus-recovery-and-reuse-options/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Towards global phosphorus security: a systems framework for phosphorus recovery and reuse options |date=31 March 2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/towards-global-phosphorus-security-a-systems-framework-for-phosphorus-recovery-and-reuse-options/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2011towards, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Towards global phosphorus security: a systems framework for phosphorus recovery and reuse options}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, month = mar, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/towards-global-phosphorus-security-a-systems-framework-for-phosphorus-recovery-and-reuse-options/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }