Phosphorus: a limiting nutrient for humanity?

Graphical abstract Highlights ► P is essential to build key molecules, such as RNA needed for rapid growth. ► P is often limiting to productivity in ecosystems, including to crops. ► Large amounts of P are mined annually to make fertilizer to produce food. ► Current P use is unsustainable owing to e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in biotechnology 2012-12, Vol.23 (6), p.833-838
Main Author: Elser, James J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
bioenergy
Conservation of Natural Resources
crops
DNA
Environmental Pollutants - analysis
Eutrophication
farms
Fertilizers
food chain
Food Supply
Human Activities
human population
Humans
Internal Medicine
lakes
meat consumption
oceans
phosphorus
phosphorus fertilizers
Phosphorus, Dietary - analysis
Phosphorus, Dietary - metabolism
Phosphorus, Dietary - supply & distribution
recycling
rivers
RNA
society
viability
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Graphical abstract Highlights ► P is essential to build key molecules, such as RNA needed for rapid growth. ► P is often limiting to productivity in ecosystems, including to crops. ► Large amounts of P are mined annually to make fertilizer to produce food. ► Current P use is unsustainable owing to ecosystem impacts and uncertainties about fertilizer production. ► A food system redesign to combine P-efficient crops with P recycling is needed.
ISSN:0958-1669
1879-0429
DOI:10.1016/j.copbio.2012.03.001