IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/envsyd/v43y2023i3d10.1007_s10669-023-09903-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

New investments in phosphorus research and training are paramount for Brazilian long-term environmental and food security

Author

Listed:
  • Henrique Rasera Raniro

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna)

  • Jéssica Papera

    (Wetsus
    Delft University of Technology)

  • Lucas Urbano José

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Rodrigo Maia Valença

    (Aalborg University)

  • Paulo Sergio Pavinato

    (University of São Paulo)

  • Ludwig Hermann

    (Proman Management GmbH)

  • Jakob Santner

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
    Justus Liebig University Gießen)

Abstract

Brazil is an agricultural giant that plays a crucial role in the Global Phosphorus Challenge (GPC), and whose highly weathered soils are currently dependent on phosphorus (P) fertilizers derived from phosphate rock, a dwindling and critical resource. Brazil imports > 50% of its P fertilizers and P recovery from waste is not yet explored in the country, making it vulnerable to market instabilities, phosphate rock availability, and geopolitical conflicts. To make matters worse, Brazilian research budget has been shrinking for 7 years straight, hindering scientific efforts and causing significant ‘brain drain’, further undermining the country’s capacity to tackle this critical problem. However, an opportunity comes with the new Brazilian Federal government (starting January 2023), which promises to make significant investments in science and higher education. We call for all stakeholders to seize this important moment and timely collaborate in creating multidisciplinary P-related projects, taking advantage of the soon-to-be available resources to develop knowledge, technologies, and training networks to shape a new generation of experts in P management in the tropics. We are confident that through agriculture intensification, intelligent use of resources, new legislation and governance, Brazil will stride towards sustainable food production, bringing immediate value to Brazil and the world by protecting the Amazon forest and advancing to overcome the GPC.

Suggested Citation

  • Henrique Rasera Raniro & Jéssica Papera & Lucas Urbano José & Rodrigo Maia Valença & Paulo Sergio Pavinato & Ludwig Hermann & Jakob Santner, 2023. "New investments in phosphorus research and training are paramount for Brazilian long-term environmental and food security," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 504-508, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:43:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10669-023-09903-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-023-09903-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10669-023-09903-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10669-023-09903-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. C. Langhans & A. H. W. Beusen & J. M. Mogollón & A. F. Bouwman, 2022. "Phosphorus for Sustainable Development Goal target of doubling smallholder productivity," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 57-63, January.
    2. T. Zou & X. Zhang & E. A. Davidson, 2022. "Global trends of cropland phosphorus use and sustainability challenges," Nature, Nature, vol. 611(7934), pages 81-87, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Qiang Wang & Yuanfan Li & Rongrong Li, 2024. "Rethinking the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis across 214 countries: the impacts of 12 economic, institutional, technological, resource, and social factors," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Panpan Ji & Jianhui Chen & Ruijin Chen & Jianbao Liu & Chaoqing Yu & Fahu Chen, 2024. "Nitrogen and phosphorus trends in lake sediments of China may diverge," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Nazir Ahmed & Lifang Deng & Chuan Wang & Zia-ul-Hassan Shah & Lansheng Deng & Yongquan Li & Juan Li & Sadaruddin Chachar & Zaid Chachar & Faisal Hayat & Bilquees Bozdar & Filza Ansari & Rashid Ali & L, 2024. "Advancements in Biochar Modification for Enhanced Phosphorus Utilization in Agriculture," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-27, May.
    4. Yifan Wu & Jingyu Liu & Yong Geng & Dong Wu, 2023. "Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency and Status of Phosphorus Reuse in China from 1990 to 2019," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Daniel Magnone & Vahid J. Niasar & Alexander F. Bouwman & Arthur H. W. Beusen & Sjoerd E. A. T. M. Zee & Sheida Z. Sattari, 2022. "The impact of phosphorus on projected Sub-Saharan Africa food security futures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Zhao, Danyue & Liu, Wenxin & Gao, Rong & Zhang, Ping & Li, Meng & Wu, Pute & Zhuo, La, 2023. "Spatiotemporal evolution of crop grey water footprint and associated water pollution levels in arid regions of western China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:43:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10669-023-09903-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.