A new report issued by the United Nations claims the world is facing a fertilizer crisis. According to the report – Our Nutrient World – some areas of the world have too much fertilizer and others don’t have enough. Though the report criticizes the use of mass-produced nutrients that it says cause water and air pollution that is damaging to human health – it also acknowledges how the application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer has benefitted the world by allowing plants to produce more food. With a projection that the world will increase its demand and use of fertilizers by 40-percent in the next 40 years to 50-percent – the report suggests the world needs to rethink how fertilizers are used so more food and energy can be produced with less pollution. The report says it’s important to decide what body should oversee a new attempt at globally managing fertilizer use. According to the report’s lead author – Professor Mark Sutton from the UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology – the analysis shows that improving the management of the flow of nutrients can help protect the environment, climate and human health while addressing food and energy security concerns.
Source: NAFB News Service