Why I am in favor of phosphates being removed from detergents (the phosphate mines at Bartow, FL are our only national supply):
Phosphorus Famine: The Threat to Our Food Supply
Consumption; Demand; Pricesvox_mundi writes “
As complex as the chemistry of life may be, the conditions for the vigorous growth of plants often boil down to three numbers, say, 19-12-5. Those are the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, prominently displayed on every package of fertilizer. In the 20th century the three nutrients enabled agriculture to increase its productivity and the world’s population to grow more than sixfold. But what is their source? We obtain nitrogen from the air, but we must mine phosphorus and potassium. The world has enough potassium to last several centuries. But phosphorus is a different story. Readily available global supplies may start running out by the end of this century. By then our population may have reached a peak that some say is beyond what the planet can sustainably feed.
Moreover, trouble may surface much sooner. As last year’s oil price swings have shown, markets can tighten long before a given resource is anywhere near its end. And reserves of phosphorus are even less evenly distributed than oil’s, raising additional supply concerns. The U.S. is the world’s second-largest producer of phosphorus (after China), at 19 percent of the total, but 65 percent of that amount comes from a single source: pit mines near Tampa, Fla., which may not last more than a few decades. Meanwhile nearly 40 percent of global reserves are controlled by a single country, Morocco, sometimes referred to as the “Saudi Arabia of phosphorus.” Although Morocco is a stable, friendly nation, the imbalance makes phosphorus a geostrategic ticking time bomb.
This is such a ubiquitous chemical that there must be plenty of sources from which it could be processed. I think they mines are currently the “only” sources simply because they are cheaper than any of the alternatives, not because there aren’t any alternatives.
Not so much. I've been looking for various fertilizers this spring and I cannot find the numbe on most of them. What gives? It's always been there before. I want it to be big and right up front so that it smacks me in the face. I don't want to have to comb through the fine print. I'm not kidding. Even on Miracle Gro, the numbers seem to be missing this year.
Ever heard of Julian Simon? Look him up. He devoted much of his life to pointing out (correctly) that every single prediction of impending disaster due to shortage of a particular commodity turned out to be wrong.
I think you are speaking about the “Peak Phosphate” theory, which a number of people are supporting. But just a point, Florida is not the only supplier, there a huge mines, for example, in Idaho.
We’ll never run out of phosphorus.
You’re right. More important things to do with phosphate than wash your dishes.
Really? I wonder why all the commotion about the phosphate mines out by Soda Springs, ID or immediately west of Pocatello, ID. Both sites feed the "Don Plant" of Simplot fertilizer manufacturing in Pocatello.
I suppose really small children and media reporters and newsreaders will buy that Bullshit*, but most educated adults cannot.
Phosphorus is not one of the radioactive elements, so it can't "disappear" or change into another one.
Unless, somehow, all phosphorus is being shot into space after use, I don't see how the world can possible "run out."
Just saying.
Yeah, we are running out of resources... the world is coming to an end. Sorry, am getting really tired of the environmentalists and their cohorts (yes, you are following the trend).
Am beginning to think that almost all of this is about money. Call me disgusted.