The hidden cost of phosphate fertilizers: mapping multi-stakeholder supply chain risks and impacts from mine to fork

Cordell, D; Turner, A; Chong, J

The hidden cost of phosphate fertilizers: mapping multi-stakeholder supply chain risks and impacts from mine to fork

Cordell, D

Turner, A

Chong, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Global Change, Peace and Security, 2015, 27 (3), pp. 323 - 343
Issue Date:: 2015-09-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cordell, D https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5138-1569	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Turner, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0586-5615	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Chong, J	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-09-02	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Global Change, Peace and Security, 2015, 27 (3), pp. 323 - 343	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1478-1158	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/37339
dc.description.abstract	© 2015 Taylor & Francis. Without phosphorus, we could not produce food. Farmers need access to phosphate fertilizers to achieve the high crop yields needed to feed the world. Yet growing global demand for phosphorus could surpass supply in the coming decades, and the world currently largely relies on non-renewable phosphate rock that is mined in only a few countries. Morocco alone controls 75% of the remaining reserves, including those in the conflict territory of Western Sahara. While some argue that the market will take care of any scarcity, the market price of phosphate fertilizers fails to account for far-ranging negative impacts. Drawing on multi-stakeholder supply chain risk frameworks, the article identifies a range of negative impacts, including the exploitation and displacement of the Saharawi people, the destruction of aquatic ecosystems by nutrient pollution, and jeopardizing future generations' ability to produce food. This paper fills a crucial gap in understanding phosphorus impacts by mapping and discussing the nature of phosphorus supply chain risks, and the transmission of such risks to different stakeholder groups. It also identifies a range of potential interventions to mitigate and manage those risks. In addition, the paper highlights that while risks are diverse, from geopolitical to ecological, those groups adversely affected are also diverse – including the Saharawi people, farmers, businesses, food consumers and the environment. Potential risk mitigation strategies range from resource sparing (using phosphorus more sparingly to extend the life of high quality rock for ourselves and future generations), to resource diversification (sourcing phosphorus from a range of ethical sources to reduce dependence on imported phosphate, as a buffer against supply disruptions, and preferencing those sources with lower societal costs), and sharing the responsibility for these costs and consequences.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Global Change, Peace and Security	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/14781158.2015.1083540	en_US
dc.title	The hidden cost of phosphate fertilizers: mapping multi-stakeholder supply chain risks and impacts from mine to fork	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	27	en_US
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration	en_US
utslib.for	1606 Political Science	en_US
utslib.for	1602 Criminology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	27	en_US

Abstract:

© 2015 Taylor & Francis. Without phosphorus, we could not produce food. Farmers need access to phosphate fertilizers to achieve the high crop yields needed to feed the world. Yet growing global demand for phosphorus could surpass supply in the coming decades, and the world currently largely relies on non-renewable phosphate rock that is mined in only a few countries. Morocco alone controls 75% of the remaining reserves, including those in the conflict territory of Western Sahara. While some argue that the market will take care of any scarcity, the market price of phosphate fertilizers fails to account for far-ranging negative impacts. Drawing on multi-stakeholder supply chain risk frameworks, the article identifies a range of negative impacts, including the exploitation and displacement of the Saharawi people, the destruction of aquatic ecosystems by nutrient pollution, and jeopardizing future generations' ability to produce food. This paper fills a crucial gap in understanding phosphorus impacts by mapping and discussing the nature of phosphorus supply chain risks, and the transmission of such risks to different stakeholder groups. It also identifies a range of potential interventions to mitigate and manage those risks. In addition, the paper highlights that while risks are diverse, from geopolitical to ecological, those groups adversely affected are also diverse – including the Saharawi people, farmers, businesses, food consumers and the environment. Potential risk mitigation strategies range from resource sparing (using phosphorus more sparingly to extend the life of high quality rock for ourselves and future generations), to resource diversification (sourcing phosphorus from a range of ethical sources to reduce dependence on imported phosphate, as a buffer against supply disruptions, and preferencing those sources with lower societal costs), and sharing the responsibility for these costs and consequences.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/37339