A non-renewable resource, phosphorus (P) is essential for crop and food production. However, due to inefficient use and limited global reserves, inorganic P fertilisers will become less economically viable and there are concerns about future supplies and the environmental consequences of mismanagement. Without action, this situation could undermine agricultural productivity and sustainability.

A large proportion of P is already present in soils in organic forms, which are fundamental for biological and ecosystems functions in the terrestrial environment, as well as cell function, growth and reproduction.

“Organic P research has a critical role to play in tackling a number of important global challenges and there are key contributions to be made toward understanding biogeochemical cycles, dynamics and function of natural ecosystems and the management of agricultural systems,” the group of 102 scientists from 23 countries agreed.

Professor Phil Haygarth, from Lancaster University’s Environment Centre, said: “Phosphorus is one of the key elements that supports our life on the planet.  This work represents a unique consensus from 100 global researchers who all agree that there are some exciting new opportunities to manage it better. Focusing on organic phosphorus forms holds the key to this.”

Dr Tim George, rhizosphere scientist at the James Hutton Institute and coordinator of the study, said the group identified several research priorities on organic P in the environment.

“We must reduce our reliance on inorganic P fertilisers and strategies to do this will increase the relevance of organic P in our soils for plant nutrition. Secondly, there is a need to develop a circular P economy which will likely lead to an increase in the amounts of organic P ‘waste’ products being recycled to land,” was the consensus statement of the group, which went on to state that “to address the global environmental changes and challenges, we should concentrate our efforts on understanding the biological significance of organic P by considering its interactions with other elements in soil, specifically soil microorganisms. We should consider these interactions with respect to changes in land use and management and as a function of geochemical conditions in the wider biophysical and socio-economic environment.” 

The scientific team also identified a need to engage with society and become more global, collaborative, inclusive and longer-term in nature.

“The key to fostering this change will depend on logically communicating the importance of organic P to society at large, engaging with stakeholders on important global issues, and ultimately pushing this important area of research up the agenda of policy makers and funding bodies on a global scale,” Dr George added.

The paper “Organic phosphorus in the terrestrial environment: a perspective on the state of the art and future priorities” is published in the latest issue of Plant and Soil, DOI 10.1007/s11104-017-3391-x, and is part of a Special Issue of papers associated with an Organic P workshop held in the Lake District of England in 2016.