A model for estimating phosphorus requirements of world food production

Helin, Janne; Weikard, Hans‐Peter

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2019.102666

Cited by 27 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…According to current estimations, the global population has reached about 7.8 billion and continues to increase by more than 81 million people per year in recent years [1]. The fast-growing population around the world increases pressure on daily anthropogenic activities such as industrial and processing activities [2,3] to fulfill the daily demands of more food, shelter and other services [4,5], which subsequently threatens the sustainability of the global ecosystem [6,7]. Nowadays, more than 55% of the global population is living in metropolitan areas [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unprecedented Temporary Reduction in Global Air Pollution Associated with COVID-19 Forced Confinement: A Continental and City Scale Analysis

et al. 2020

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Shortly after the outbreak of the novel infectious disease (COVID-19) started at the end of 2019, it turned into a global pandemic, which caused the lockdown of many countries across the world. Various strict measures were adopted to reduce anthropogenic activities in order to prevent further spread and infection of the disease. In this study, we utilized continental scale remotely sensed data along with city scale in situ air quality observations for 2020 as well as data from the baseline period (2015–2019) to provide an early insight on air pollution changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, by combining both continental and city scales. For the continental scale analysis, data of NO2, SO2, and O3 were acquired from the ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) and data of aerosol optical depth (AOD) were collected from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS). For city scale analysis, data of NO2, CO, PM2.5, O3, and SO2 were derived from ground-based air quality observations. Results from satellite observations at the continental scale showed that concentrations of NO2, SO2, and AOD substantially dropped in 2020 during the lockdown period compared to their averages for the baseline period over all continents, with a maximum reduction of ~33% for NO2 in East Asia, ~41% for SO2 in East Asia, and ~37% for AOD in South Asia. In the case of O3, the maximum overall reduction was observed as ~11% in Europe, followed by ~10% in North America, while a slight increase was found in other study regions. These findings align with ground-based air quality observations, which showed that pollutants such as NO2, CO, PM2.5, and SO2 during the 2020 lockdown period decreased significantly except that O3 had varying patterns in different cities. Specifically, a maximum reduction of ~49% in NO2 was found in London, ~43% in CO in Wuhan, ~38% in PM2.5 in Chennai, and ~48% in SO2 in Beijing. In the case of urban O3, a maximum reduction of ~43% was found in Wuhan, but a significant increase of ~47% was observed in Chennai. It is obvious that restricted human activities during the lockdown have reduced the anthropogenic emissions and subsequently improved air quality, especially across the metropolitan cities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unprecedented Temporary Reduction in Global Air Pollution Associated with COVID-19 Forced Confinement: A Continental and City Scale Analysis

et al. 2020

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“…This trend is reinforced as the traditional pathway of P from soil to food production shifted to an anthropogenic intensive pathway of P mining to food production. The key factors underlying this trend include the growth of food demand and the changes of the food structure from a modest, mostly vegetarian-based diet to a more complex diet (i.e., more animal-based foods with higher P content), made possible through rising societal affluence 36 . Should this trend persist, China's food security shall be increasingly vulnerable to P availability under socio-environmental shocks and disturbances to its P cycling network.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network resilience of phosphorus cycling in China has shifted by natural flows, fertilizer use and dietary transitions between 1600 and 2012

Liang¹,

Yu²,

Kharrazi³

et al. 2020

Nat Food

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The resilience of the phosphorus (P) cycling network is critical to ecosystem functioning and human activities. Although P cycling pathways have been previously mapped, a knowledge gap remains in evaluating the P network's ability to withstand shocks or disturbances. Applying principles of mass balance and ecological network analysis, we examine the network resilience of P cycling in China from 1600 to 2012. Results show that changes in network resilience have shifted from being driven by natural P flows for food production to industrial P flows for chemical fertilizer production. Urbanization has intensified the one-way journey of P, further deteriorating network resilience. Over 2000-2012, the network resilience of P cycling has decreased by 11% due to dietary changes towards more animal-based foods. A trade-off between network resilience improvement and increasing food trade is also observed. These findings can support policy decisions for enhanced P cycling network resilience in China.

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“…In addition to animal feed imports, high fertiliser P imports are needed to meet this demand because, across Europe as a whole, 63 % of crop production P output is fed to livestock. In many EU countries, fertiliser P inputs are therefore still too high relative to the productive P output, and this oversupply is also reflected at a global scale (Helin and Weikard 2019).…”

Section: Drivers Of P Inefficiency Surplus and Lossmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards resolving the phosphorus chaos created by food systems

Withers

Forber

Lyon

et al. 2019

Ambio

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The chaotic distribution and dispersal of phosphorus (P) used in food systems (defined here as disorderly disruptions to the P cycle) is harming our environment beyond acceptable limits. An analysis of P stores and flows across Europe in 2005 showed that high fertiliser P inputs relative to productive outputs was driving low system P efficiency (38 % overall). Regional P imbalance (P surplus) and system P losses were highly correlated to total system P inputs and animal densities, causing unnecessary P accumulation in soils and rivers. Reducing regional P surpluses to zero increased system P efficiency (? 16 %) and decreased total P losses by 35 %, but required a reduction in system P inputs of ca. 40 %, largely as fertiliser. We discuss transdisciplinary and transformative solutions that tackle the P chaos by collective stakeholder actions across the entire food value chain. Lowering system P demand and better regional governance of P resources appear necessary for more efficient and sustainable food systems.

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A model for estimating phosphorus requirements of world food production

Cited by 27 publications

References 45 publications

Unprecedented Temporary Reduction in Global Air Pollution Associated with COVID-19 Forced Confinement: A Continental and City Scale Analysis

Unprecedented Temporary Reduction in Global Air Pollution Associated with COVID-19 Forced Confinement: A Continental and City Scale Analysis

Network resilience of phosphorus cycling in China has shifted by natural flows, fertilizer use and dietary transitions between 1600 and 2012

Towards resolving the phosphorus chaos created by food systems

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