Phosphorus as the Strategic Natural Resource of the 21st Century

... bln each; the US, 1.1 bln; and the remaining 5-6 countries, including Russia, about 0.2 bln tons each. Infomine These figures by themselves do not reflect the pressing issue at stake. What is indeed significant is how much we consume, and how we use phosphates. Of the 140 million tons of phosphate ore mined annually, only 40 per cent is used in nutrient phosphates. The prevalent production and transportation methods in the fertiliser industry remain very cost-intensive. Almost half of phosphate fertilisers ...