Recent analysis of the flow of phosphorus from “farm to
fork” illustrated the amount of phosphorus that is “lost”
along the way when passing from mine to field to fork
(Cordell et al 2009, 2011). We have summarised this
flow in a simplified figure, focusing on the agriculture
system’s losses. From this, it is possible to visualise where
interventions for a more sustainable use of phosphorus
could focus (based on absolute and relative inefficiencies
within each subsystem) (Figure 4). The losses are
significant, and overall major losses in absolute amounts
are concentrated in two main subsystems: arable land and
livestock production.