permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

What is being done to conserve phosphate resources globally?
Is usage of mined phosphate, a non-renewable resource, being prioritized 
according to any conservation strategy?
Is it being recycled intelligently in agricultural systems?
Is is still used in the manufacture of soft drinks and if so, why is that 
allowed?


http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2006/061129.htm
Adjusting Fertilizer to Create Low-Phytate Crops
By Don Comis
November 29, 2006
Giving too much phosphorus to wheat and barley plants has been shown to raise 
the amount stored as phytate, rather than
as more digestible forms of phosphorus. This finding is important for two 
reasons: Livestock that are fed high-phytate
grains excrete more phosphorus in their manure, which can pollute water. 
Also, phosphorus is a finite resource that
could be irreplaceable once it has been thoroughly mined—which could happen 
in the next 25 years.