A critical element fueling global food systems, as well as emerging green technologies, is thrust into the spotlight this September with the convening of the 8th Sustainable Phosphorus Summit (SPS8) in Accra, Ghana. This landmark international gathering brings together scientists, policymakers, industry experts, and regional stakeholders to confront the escalating challenges surrounding phosphorus sustainability. As a finite and indispensable nutrient central to agricultural productivity, phosphorus now stands at a crossroads, demanding urgent, coordinated global interventions to secure food futures and safeguard environmental health.
Phosphorus, primarily utilized in fertilizers to promote robust crop and livestock production, occupies a paradoxical position within contemporary agriculture and environmental policy discourse. While absolutely critical for maintaining soil fertility, it is also a potent pollutant that, when mismanaged, accelerates eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. Runoff laden with excess phosphorus disrupts freshwater and coastal environments worldwide, fostering harmful algal blooms that devastate biodiversity and imperil human health. This duality renders phosphorus management a complex scientific, economic, and socio-political challenge requiring nuanced solutions.
The SPS8 conference is historic not only for its broad thematic scope but also as the first global sustainable phosphorus summit to be held on African soil. Africa’s unique phosphorus dynamics add urgency and depth to the discussions. Despite facing critical agricultural demands driven by burgeoning populations and climate-induced stresses, much of the continent still experiences suboptimal phosphorus utilization. The continent’s declining fertilizer application rates since the late 20th century underscore a pressing need for innovation and investment to elevate phosphorus efficiency and agricultural productivity.
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African agriculture’s phosphorus challenge is further complicated by socio-economic and infrastructural constraints. Access to high-quality, affordable fertilizers remains limited for many farmers, resulting in reduced yields and compromised food security. Dr. Grace Kangara, one of SPS8’s co-organizers, emphasizes that African agricultural systems boast innovative, locally adapted soil fertility strategies, such as Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM). These approaches tailor nutrient applications to local conditions but require enhanced scaling and policy support to meet the continent’s growing agricultural demands sustainably.
Pilot projects across Africa have demonstrated promising sustainable phosphorus interventions, including improved water resource monitoring and innovative biomass waste recycling techniques. However, these initiatives have yet to transition beyond small-scale trials. Bridging this gap is essential to lifting farmer livelihoods and ensuring long-term food security. Expanding fertilizer accessibility, refining application methodologies, and promoting education on soil nutrient management are pivotal steps toward closing this divide and catalyzing sustainable growth.
Livestock manure recycling represents a traditional yet limited method for phosphorus replenishment in African soils. The low prevalence of cattle in many smallholder farms restricts the effectiveness of organic phosphorus recycling via manure, thus constraining a crucial nutrient pathway. This structural limitation underscores the need for alternative strategies that can be more universally adopted across diverse farming systems and geographies within the continent.
One promising alternative gaining traction in Africa is the use of phosphate rock, a naturally sourced mineral capable of supplying phosphorus slowly in acidic soils common in the region. The soil chemistry in many African environments aids the gradual dissolution and uptake of phosphate rock-based fertilizers, presenting a cost-effective and environmentally compatible solution. Yet, phosphorus’s interactions with essential micronutrients, notably zinc, complicate this approach. Excessive phosphorus can hinder zinc uptake, exacerbating micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in populations reliant on plant-based diets, and calling for calibrated fertilization strategies that maintain nutrient balance.
Contrasting Africa’s phosphorus scarcity and emerging innovations is the situation in many high-income countries, where phosphorus overuse has precipitated significant environmental degradation. Intensive agricultural systems generate excess phosphorus runoff, contaminating rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. The resulting toxic algal blooms disrupt ecosystems and pose public health risks through contaminated water supplies and bioaccumulation in food chains. Addressing phosphorus inefficiencies in these contexts is as critical as boosting application in under-resourced regions, highlighting the global nature of phosphorus sustainability concerns.
Global phosphorus reserves, primarily derived from finite phosphate rock deposits, currently do not face immediate depletion threats. However, uneven geopolitical distribution of these phosphate-rich resources compounds concerns over long-term availability. The growing demand for phosphorus in emerging technologies, notably lithium-ion battery production—a cornerstone of renewable energy systems—further intensifies pressure on reserves. This convergence of agricultural necessity and industrial demand underscores the urgency for sustainable phosphorus management strategies incorporating resource conservation and recycling.
At SPS8, a central theme is the development of a circular phosphorus economy—closing the loop through waste reduction, enhanced fertilizer efficiency, and phosphorus recovery from wastewater and agricultural runoff. Innovations in phosphorus recycling technologies, alongside improved agronomic practices, offer pathways to decouple phosphorus demand from finite resource extraction, mitigating ecological impacts and fostering resilience within food systems. Delegates aim to foster knowledge exchange and catalyze action capable of transforming phosphorus management regionally and globally.
The summit also seeks to empower a new cadre of “Phosphorus Champions” who will drive systemic change within and across African nations. This network aims to amplify African voices and priorities, ensuring solutions reflect local realities and equity considerations. Establishing the African Sustainable Phosphorus Network (ASPN) is a landmark outcome anticipated to coordinate research, policy advocacy, and farmer engagement, bridging continental diversity with unified stewardship of phosphorus resources.
Professor Phil Haygarth from Lancaster University, a lead figure in SPS8’s organization, highlights the summit’s transformational potential: “Optimizing phosphorus efficiency in African soils is critical to feeding the world’s future populations while innovating sustainable recycling solutions.” This dual imperative points to an integrated approach combining scientific research, policy frameworks, and community-driven practices as the foundation of phosphorus sustainability.
The SPS8 conference takes place from September 30 to October 3 at the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge, Accra. It gathers multidisciplinary stakeholders from academia, industry, agriculture, governmental bodies, and environmental organizations. Together, they will chart the path forward for phosphorus stewardship at a pivotal moment defined by intertwined challenges of food security, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
By placing Africa at the heart of this global dialogue, SPS8 underscores the continent’s critical role in shaping sustainable nutrient futures. Harnessing African innovations and addressing region-specific phosphorus constraints can generate solutions with global applicability. The summit aspires to be a catalyst for equitable, science-based phosphorus management strategies that sustain agricultural productivity while preserving the planet’s vital ecosystems for generations to come.
Subject of Research: Sustainable phosphorus management and nutrient cycling in African agriculture
Article Title: Towards a sustainable phosphorus network in Africa
News Publication Date: 14-Jul-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilad.2025.100067
Keywords: phosphorus sustainability, sustainable agriculture, nutrient management, food security, phosphorus recycling, African agriculture, soil fertility, phosphate rock, micronutrient interactions, eutrophication, circular economy, Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM)
Tags: environmental impact of phosphoruseutrophication and water pollutionfood and water security issuesGlobal Phosphorus Summitinternational policy on phosphorusnutrient management in farmingphosphorus and biodiversityphosphorus in African agriculturephosphorus in agriculturephosphorus sustainability challengessustainable agricultural practicessustainable development goals and phosphorus