A global phosphorous summit is planned for Ghana next month (September 2025) as fears grow for the sustainable use of this key plant nutrient, particularly in Africa.
The upcoming event will see scientists, policymakers and industry leaders from around the world meet to address the urgent need for sustainable phosphorus management.
Phosphorus, a key component of fertiliser essential for crop and animal production, is now recognised as both a critical finite resource and a pollutant threatening aquatic ecosystems.
With global demand rising and environmental concerns mounting, experts say coordinated global action is needed to avoid a crisis that could jeopardise food security and water quality worldwide.
Phosphorus summit
The 8th Sustainable Phosphorus Summit (SPS8), being held in Accra, is jointly organised by Lancaster University, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Rothamsted Research, the Council for Scientific Research in Ghana, and the Forum for Agricultural Research Africa.
It marks the first time the global conference has been hosted in Africa – a region where phosphorus use remains far below optimal levels, despite growing agricultural needs.
Phosphorus use in African agriculture is generally sub-optimal and has declined sharply since the late 20th century.
Experts warn that without urgent investment and innovation, the region’s food production could falter under the twin pressures of population growth and climate change.
While examples of sustainable phosphorus measures in Africa exist, including monitoring of water resources and recycling of biomass waste, these are often implemented only at pilot scale.
Nevertheless, increasing fertiliser accessibility and optimising application remains a key priority to ensure improvements in farmer livelihoods and food security in the region.
However, options for many African farmers are limited. While repeated use of cattle manure can contribute to recycling phosphorus to soil, this is not always practical for most smallholder farmers to achieve due to low numbers of livestock.
Phosphate rock
The use of phosphate rock has been proposed as an alternative and is gaining momentum in Africa where the acidity of soils helps dissolve the phosphate.
However, phosphorus can interact with other micronutrients which can be sparse in some of the continent’s soils.
For instance, it can affect zinc uptake in plants and subsequent dietary intake in humans, especially in communities reliant on plant-based diets.
There is a need, therefore, for balanced phosphorus fertiliser application and increased recognition of its potential interactions with other essential nutrients.
Meanwhile, inefficient phosphorus use elsewhere, particularly in high-income countries, has led to widespread pollution of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, fuelling toxic algal blooms that threaten biodiversity and human health.
Although current reserves of phosphorus are not at immediate risk of depletion, the uneven global distribution of phosphorus-rich rocks, coupled with rising demand for the mineral in lithium battery production and other industries, adds to concerns about long-term security and sustainability.
