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Sustainable Agriculture
Mrd. (Milliarde) is German for Billion
1 Ac
0.5 Ac
0.4 Ac
Agricultural Production must
increase 70% over current
production rates in order to provision
9 Billion People
FARM MORE LAND!35% of the Earth’s Terrestrial Surface is under Cultivation
We are Losing Farmland
We are losing roughly 25,000 acres per year
(globally)
30% to Urbanization
&
70% toSoil Degradation
The Challenge:
To nearly double agriculturalproduction on less land.
AND…
It must be done in a sustainable manner.
The Solution:
This means using our existing resources efficiently.
The Resources:
This means using our existing resources efficiently.
The Resources:
NPK8TH MOST ABUNDANTELEMENT ON EARTH
The Resources:
P
PHOSPHORUS
IS A LIMITED RESOURCE
Impurities Found in Phosphate Fertilizers
Other Minerals: Iron Nickel Molebdenum
Toxic Elements: Aluminum Cadmium ** Lead Mercury Chromium
**Cadmium and Uranium from agronomic sources have been documented as present in our food chain
and causative agents of disease (Dissanayake, 2007).
Radioactive Elements: Uranium-238** Uranium-234** Thorium-230 Radium-226 Radon-222 Lead-210 Polonium-210
PHOSPHOGYPSUMSince 1960 we have produced over 400,000,000 MT (almost one TRILLION pounds) of phosphogypsum. It is stored in exposed stacks and subject to wind and water erosion. These stacks cover hundreds to thousands of acres across the US.
For every 1 ton of phosphoric acid produced
5 tons of radio active waste are produced.
3.10%
0.35%0.44%
0.003%
5.21%
0.14%
0.01%8.17%
0.25%
2.11%
0.04%
70.42%
0.34%
1.83%
0.25%
2.11%
2.54%
0.08% 0.14%
1.97%
0.70%
Percent of World Phosphate Reserves by Country Algeria
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Egypt
India
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Mexico
Morocco and Western Sahara
Peru
Russia
Senegal
South Africa
Syria
Togo
Tunisia
United States
Other Countries
The Politics & Economics of Phosphorus
King of MoroccoMuhammad VI
The Politics & Economics of Phosphorus
y = -91.077x + 4643.1
-1000
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Depletion Rate of US Phosphate Rock Reserves
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Pri
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U.S
. D
olla
rs p
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ton
)
Phosphate Rock Prices
P-rock (U.S.)
Morocco
Peak Global Production for Phosphate Rock
Australia 2013
The Challenge
• We need to grow more food on less land.
• We are running out of Phosphorus.
• High Input Systems cause environmental damage.
• High Inputs are inherently inefficient.
• Less than 20% of the Phosphorus we apply to our fields actually winds up in plant tissue.
What is the Solution?
SUSTAINABLY INCREASEAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
• Restore Lost Farmland• Improve the overall drought tolerance of
the agricultural ecosystem• Increase soil stability• Improve the Water-Holding Capacity of
our Soils• Prevent Erosion
SUSTAINABLY INCREASEAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
• No-Till• Cover Crops• Crop Rotations• Reduce Inputs
CONVERTING OUR ENTIRE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM TO A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM
• Microbial Inoculants THAT WORK
• Change the Way we Breed Crops
CONVERTING OUR ENTIRE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM TO A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM
• Microbial Inoculants THAT WORK
• Change the Way we Breed Crops
CONVERTING OUR ENTIRE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM TO A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM
They concluded…
“..potentially all crops, no matter where they are grown could benefit from optimization of their microbial partners.
The time is right to enlist the capabilities of the microbial world to help solve this pressing human problem.”
Microbes (AMF)…
•Cycle Nutrients
•Increase the nutritional value of crops
•Protect plants from disease
•Build soil quality & Structure
•Increase plant nutrient use efficiency
•Can replace harmful chemicals
AGRICHEMICALS
0
200
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1400
Agro Prairie
Spo
res
pe
r 5
0m
l So
ilAMF vs. NON-AM Fungi
NON
AMF
AFTER Non-Targeted ControlAgro Ecosystem Non-Targeted Control
Optimized SystemAgro Ecosystem
Global Warming
QUESTIONS
