The role of Phosphorus in the Resilience and Sustainability of the UK food system
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Lancaster Environment Centre
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient required for crop and livestock production, but the global reserves of phosphate rock (PR) from which fertilisers and feeds are derived are a finite critical resource. Phosphorus cannot be made chemically and the UK has no PR reserves of its own. UK agriculture is therefore entirely dependent on P imports of fertilisers, feeds and foods, which are becoming increasingly volatile in cost. A future scarcity of P (either locally or globally), or a significant rise in the costs of P imports, therefore threaten the future security and resilience of the UK food system, but this vulnerability has not previously been evaluated. Brexit may increase the UK vulnerability to future P supply due to exclusion from EU trade agreements. The use of P within UK agriculture is also very inefficient and leads to large wastage, and loss of P to inland and coastal waters causing nutrient pollution or eutrophication. Such losses and the resulting pollution are expected to be exacerbated by climate change. Eutrophication is very costly to society and devalues many ecosystem services linked to water quality including water quantity for drinking, biodiversity and recreation. Regulatory standards to control eutrophication are based on P, and it is therefore critically important to improve the sustainability of UK farming by improving the management of P across the whole food chain. Better stewardship of P has a double benefit: it can firstly increase the resilience of the UK food system to P shocks by reducing UK reliance on P imports and secondly optimize the intensification of agriculture with minimal impact on water quality and increase the value of the ecosystem services dependent on water quality.
In this project, an interdisciplinary research team covering the biological, environmental and socio-economic sciences aims to quantify the vulnerability of UK agriculture and the UK food system to a future P scarcity and assess the thresholds at which P scarcity might impact on agricultural production at farm, catchment and national scale. The work programme will develop and prioritise the adaptations that might overcome this vulnerability; for example through technological innovations to improve P use efficiency and reuse of secondary sources of P and the necessary institutional infrastructure to support these. In parallel, the project will identify the biophysical, technological, socio-economic and institutional barriers to implementing improved P stewardship within catchments (for example by using less, recycling more and lowering end-user demand). This will be achieved through an in-depth analysis of the catchment heterogeneity that influences how P inputs affect agriculture, water quality and cascading ecosystem services and an assessment of the adaptive capacity of stakeholders to implement optimal P stewardship solutions. A multi-actor platform involving stakeholders at local to global scales will ensure end-user engagement and integration for maximum research impact. The project will deliver the first P vulnerability assessment for the UK food chain and identify potential adaptation strategies for improved P stewardship to help maximise the resilience and sustainability of the UK food chain.
In this project, an interdisciplinary research team covering the biological, environmental and socio-economic sciences aims to quantify the vulnerability of UK agriculture and the UK food system to a future P scarcity and assess the thresholds at which P scarcity might impact on agricultural production at farm, catchment and national scale. The work programme will develop and prioritise the adaptations that might overcome this vulnerability; for example through technological innovations to improve P use efficiency and reuse of secondary sources of P and the necessary institutional infrastructure to support these. In parallel, the project will identify the biophysical, technological, socio-economic and institutional barriers to implementing improved P stewardship within catchments (for example by using less, recycling more and lowering end-user demand). This will be achieved through an in-depth analysis of the catchment heterogeneity that influences how P inputs affect agriculture, water quality and cascading ecosystem services and an assessment of the adaptive capacity of stakeholders to implement optimal P stewardship solutions. A multi-actor platform involving stakeholders at local to global scales will ensure end-user engagement and integration for maximum research impact. The project will deliver the first P vulnerability assessment for the UK food chain and identify potential adaptation strategies for improved P stewardship to help maximise the resilience and sustainability of the UK food chain.
Technical Summary
Sustainable management of phosphorus (P) is vital for the resilience and security of the UK food system, and the delivery of ecosystem services (ES) such as clean water and biodiversity. Fertilisers and feeds are derived from phosphate rock, a critical, costly and finite resource, whose scarcity or fluctuating cost (P shocks) could threaten the UKs food security. Phosphorus is also an endemic water pollutant due to inefficiencies in the food chain. Improved stewardship of P is therefore urgently needed both to increase the resilience of the UK food system to P shocks and enable the sustainable intensification of UK agriculture. This project aims to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the UK food system by developing adaptive strategies that will reduce the vulnerability of UK farming to future P shocks and optimise the provision of ES. This will require an interdisciplinary approach, as vulnerability is defined by the human, physical, social, natural, and financial capitals that determine the capacity of stakeholders to make adaptations to current P use. This 3-year project will develop methods to characterize the effects of biophysical, social and institutional heterogeneity in catchments on the response of different ES to P inputs and the vulnerability to P shocks. This will enable the identification of farm and catchment scale adaptation strategies for sustainable P management practices to overcome P vulnerability and enhance ES. The project will also deliver the first national P vulnerability assessment for the UK food system and identify priorities for a National Adaptation Strategy. The project will result in novel outputs that integrate catchment biophysical and socio-economic variability into a suite of co-developed, context-specific, and implementable P measures and adaptive strategies that will increase the sustainability and resilience of the UK food system.
Planned Impact
The sustainable management of phosphorus at farm catchment and national scale is highly relevant to multiple stakeholders including policymakers and regulators, the agri-food industry, the water industry and the general public. The project has a primary focus on stakeholder engagement through the formation of a Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) covering local, national and global networks and through this stakeholder interaction, the project will therefore have considerable potential research impact:
Policymakers (e.g. Defra) - the vulnerability of the UK food system to future phosphorus scarcity has not previously been assessed. The project will provide evidence to underpin where policy interventions might be necessary to (a) improve the efficiency and sustainability of phosphorus use at multiple scales, (b)to develop a circular phosphorus economy in the UK and (c) sustain the future competitiveness and resilience of UK agriculture and the UK food system.
Water Regulators (e.g. EA) - phosphorus is the primary cause of waterbodies failing to achieve good ecological status in many areas of the UK and regulatory standards to control costly eutrophication are based on phosphorus. The project will provide key indicators of how phosphorus (5R) stewardship can be implemented in catchments for the benefit of water quality and where eutrophication control standards are most likely to be met as agriculture intensifies.
Agri-ffod Industry (e.g. AHDB) - phosphorus scarcity could have a major impact on agricultural productivity and the project will identify the thresholds at which productivity might be affected by P shocks, and what secondary sources of phosphorus may be cost-effectively re-utilised to reduce UK dependence on expensive P fertiliser and feed imports. Phosphorus vulnerability assessments will also highlight where agricultural industries need to innovate for improved efficiency and sustainability of phosphorus use. Understanding catchment heterogeneity to P inputs will help farmers to manage phosphorus more sustainably to meet increasingly stringent regulatory standards for water quality protection.
Water Industry (e.g. Water Companies)- Water companies are at the forefront of phosphorus recovery technologies for wastewater and actively involved in catchment management to improve water quality. The project will provide the evidence to underpin where technology innovation is most urgently needed.
General Public (e.g. Rivers Trusts) - society is generally unaware of the dependency of the UK food system on phosphorus, the environmental impact of phosphorus use in the UK food system or the importance of dietary choice on the future resilience and sustainability of the UK food system. The project will provide key data to address this gap.
Policymakers (e.g. Defra) - the vulnerability of the UK food system to future phosphorus scarcity has not previously been assessed. The project will provide evidence to underpin where policy interventions might be necessary to (a) improve the efficiency and sustainability of phosphorus use at multiple scales, (b)to develop a circular phosphorus economy in the UK and (c) sustain the future competitiveness and resilience of UK agriculture and the UK food system.
Water Regulators (e.g. EA) - phosphorus is the primary cause of waterbodies failing to achieve good ecological status in many areas of the UK and regulatory standards to control costly eutrophication are based on phosphorus. The project will provide key indicators of how phosphorus (5R) stewardship can be implemented in catchments for the benefit of water quality and where eutrophication control standards are most likely to be met as agriculture intensifies.
Agri-ffod Industry (e.g. AHDB) - phosphorus scarcity could have a major impact on agricultural productivity and the project will identify the thresholds at which productivity might be affected by P shocks, and what secondary sources of phosphorus may be cost-effectively re-utilised to reduce UK dependence on expensive P fertiliser and feed imports. Phosphorus vulnerability assessments will also highlight where agricultural industries need to innovate for improved efficiency and sustainability of phosphorus use. Understanding catchment heterogeneity to P inputs will help farmers to manage phosphorus more sustainably to meet increasingly stringent regulatory standards for water quality protection.
Water Industry (e.g. Water Companies)- Water companies are at the forefront of phosphorus recovery technologies for wastewater and actively involved in catchment management to improve water quality. The project will provide the evidence to underpin where technology innovation is most urgently needed.
General Public (e.g. Rivers Trusts) - society is generally unaware of the dependency of the UK food system on phosphorus, the environmental impact of phosphorus use in the UK food system or the importance of dietary choice on the future resilience and sustainability of the UK food system. The project will provide key data to address this gap.
Organisations
- Lancaster University (Lead Research Organisation)
- Economic and Social Research Council (Co-funder)
- Scottish Government (Co-funder)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Co-funder)
- University of Melbourne (Collaboration)
- University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien (Collaboration)
- Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) (Collaboration)
- Environment Agency (Collaboration)
- Wye and Usk Foundation (Collaboration)
- Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) (Collaboration)
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Collaboration)
- N8 Research Partnership (Project Partner)
Publications
Nicholson F
(2018)
Long-term Effects of Biosolids on Soil Quality and Fertility
in Soil Science
Kusmer A
(2018)
Watershed Buffering of Legacy Phosphorus Pressure at a Regional Scale: A Comparison Across Space and Time
in Ecosystems
Hollaway M
(2018)
A method for uncertainty constraint of catchment discharge and phosphorus load estimates
in Hydrological Processes
Rech I
(2018)
Solubility, Diffusion and Crop Uptake of Phosphorus in Three Different Struvites
in Sustainability
Withers P
(2018)
Achieving Sustainable Phosphorus Use in Food Systems through Circularisation
in Sustainability
Forber K
(2018)
The Phosphorus Transfer Continuum: A Framework for Exploring Effects of Climate Change
in Agricultural & Environmental Letters
Stutter MI
(2018)
Balancing macronutrient stoichiometry to alleviate eutrophication.
in The Science of the total environment
Macintosh KA
(2019)
Transforming phosphorus use on the island of Ireland: A model for a sustainable system.
in The Science of the total environment
Macintosh KA
(2019)
Transforming soil phosphorus fertility management strategies to support the delivery of multiple ecosystem services from agricultural systems.
in The Science of the total environment
Title | Film The Phosphorus Story |
Description | A 10 minute film to highlight the role and environmental consequences of phosphorus in the food system and to promote the RePhoKUs project. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Impact | None yet |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ia_KKj-UN0 |
Title | Improving farm productivity and environmental outcomes in Northern Ireland through effective stakeholder enagement |
Description | This video presents the stakeholder engagement process carried out by the Rephokus Project, with the aim of improving farm productivity and environmental outcomes through better management of phosphorus in the Northern Ireland food system. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | This video contributed to disseminate the process and outcomes of the project contributing to delivering impact in relation to the decision by the Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Rural Affairs to roll out their soil sampling and training scheme to the national level in the form of the upcoming Nation-wide Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS). The SNHS will form a core part of DAERA's Green Growth Strategy |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiYDWf_6ZHk |
Title | P350 film |
Description | A short film to highlight the 350 anniversary of the discovery of phosphorus using local journey data |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Impact | 314 views on U-tube |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgPHPgCSt3A&feature=youtu.be |
Title | Phosphorus and the UK Food System |
Description | This animation sets the scene in terms of the P challenge in the UK and outlines pathway for solutions in support of Rephokus National P Adaptation Strategy |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | This video was a key tool for the stakeholder engagement at the national level for the project, including the consultation that has led to the publication of the first UK National P Adaptation Strategy |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDhC1zeB350 |
Title | Science for the Anthropocene |
Description | Created a podcast covering phosphorus use in society and the challenges it raises. Undertaken as part of the 'Science for the Anthropocene' N4A series introduced at Lancaster University |
Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | None yet |
Description | A meta-analysis of phosphorus (P) stores and flows across Europe in 2005 showed that high P inputs (largely as fertiliser) relative to productive outputs was driving low system P efficiency (38 % overall). Lowering system P demand through lowering inputs and better regional governance of P resources are necessary to enable more efficient and environmentally sustainable food systems. A substance flow analysis of the phosphorus flows through the food system in Northern Ireland and the UK has shown that the efficiency of phosphorus use (defined as useful product/phosphorus inputs) is also very low (38-43%), and that NI and the UK are in a phosphorus surplus that is harming water quality. The surplus has been generated largely because there is too much livestock manure produced relative to the phosphorus demand by agricultural crops. Integrated strategies to increase efficiency and reduce the P surplus are needed if water quality in Northern Ireland and across the UK is to improve. Further substance flow analysis at the catchment level confirms large regional imbalances in the phosphorus surplus, with excess phosphorus in livestock regions and a P deficit in arable areas. Manure processing and a reduction in animal numbers is required to limit P excesses in catchments. An extensive analysis of over 100 catchments and all the UK NUTS regions has shown that there is a direct relationship between the size of phosphorus input pressure and river water phosphorus concentrations. Variability in the relationship is high at the catchment level because of the variable capacity of catchments to buffer the P pressure. This is powerful evidence to indicate that system change is required to reduce the P input pressure at catchment and regional scales in addition to existing farm-level actions to mitigate the transport of phosphorus from the landscape into the river. Water quality monitoring programmes need to enhanced to adequately monitor progress in the impact of P input reductions. A 3-yr laboratory study of the values of historic legacy soil P reserves in providing some resilience to future disruptions in imported P supply has shown that it is safe to drawdown these reserves to the agronomic optimum without risk of crop yield reductions. Many UK soils have more soil P reserves than they need and such drawdown will have a beneficial impact in lowering the risk of P loss to water. Interviews, surveys and workshops in two English catchments (Welland and Wye) have highlighted (a) the importance of knowledge transfer and the particularly useful role of catchment-based analyses of local issues in prioritising where actions to mitigate phosphorus loss to water from food production systems maybe best targeted, (b) that catchment stakeholders are only marginally concerned with P-supply challenges, suggesting the catchment may not be the appropriate scale of action to address this vulnerability, (c) the key role that farmers play in sustainable management of phosphorus within catchments and the greater benefits of experiential learning when farmers 'practise what they are taught'. This is because experiential learning deepens farmers' understanding, boosts their confidence and increase the chances of them taking action. Transforming food systems towards sustainable phosphorus management involves local to global stakeholders. Conventional readings of stakeholders may not reflect system complexity leaving it difficult to see stakeholder roles in transformations. A novel stakeholder analysis method based on five qualitative pillars: stakeholder agency, system roles, power and influence, alignment to the problem, and transformational potential was developed to better define stakeholder relationships to sustainability challenges. The sustainable exploitation of phosphorus is essential for future food and water security but requires a better understanding of cause and effect, and innovation and investment in new technologies to reduce the resource and environmental burden. There is a pressing need to develop a new generation of nutrient sustainability professionals working collectively to implement diverse, interdisciplinary approaches to tackling the major challenges associated with sustainable phosphorus use. |
Exploitation Route | The outcomes of the analysis of the Northern Ireland phosphorus flows analysis are being taking forward by the National Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) Scientific Committee and a new national nutrient management scheme to the value of £30million is set to be announced that will least for 3yrs providing free soil sampling, nutrient management advice and risk & nutrient maps across the whole country. A member of the project team has been invited into the consortium to help deliver the behavioural change work. Project outputs have also been included in a forthcoming national report on the evidence base for demonstrating the impact of agriculture on aquatic ecosystem in NI and the need for the N and P regulations. The outcomes of the analysis of the UK phosphorus flows analysis are being taking forward by Defra in support of their annual nutrient budgeting and the strong links between P input pressure and water quality response (ie P concentrations) at the catchment and regional scale formed the basis for a recommendation by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Report of River Water Quality to undertake a nutrient budget in all catchments. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Government Democracy and Justice |
Description | Expertise and outputs from the behavioural work by the project team in Northern Ireland is to be used in a new national nutrient management scheme providing free soil sampling, nutrient management advice and risk and nutrient maps across the whole country. Outputs from the data analysis of phosphorus flows in Northern Ireland is also to be used in a forthcoming national report on the evidence base for demonstrating the impact of agriculture on aquatic ecosystem and the need for the N and P regulations in Northern Ireland. The findings from project analysis of nutrient flows and water quality analysis in the Wye catchment have changed the ways local authorities and other stakeholders in the Wye catchment view local conflicts over the impact of agricultural intensification on water quality and in planning. The key recommendations from the project for managing phosphorus in the Wye catchment have now been adopted as a framework for action and the project work in the Wye catchment has already led to practice change by farmers, commitment from the livestock industry to develop and implement phosphorus recovery technology and stakeholder calls for the catchment to be designated a water protection zone. Project evidence provided to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee on River Water Quality had a major impact on the outcomes of the audit and its recommendations. |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Evidence Statement to House of Commons |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Influencing DAERA roll out of national sampling scheme |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Impact | The work on the assessment of the behavioural impacts of Norther Ireland's Government EAA Soil Sampling and Training Schemes played a critical role in the decision of the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to roll out the scheme to the national level in the form of the upcoming Nation-wide Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS). The SNHS will form a core part of DAERA's recently announced Green Growth Strategy, representing an overall investment of £37M over 5 years, open to all 25,000 farmers across the country. As part of the SNHS, DAERA has commissioned me for an extensive research programme of monitoring and evaluation of the behavioural aspects of its implementation |
Description | Wye stakeholder Practice Change |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
Impact | Provision of project outputs to various stakeholder groups in the Wye catchment have led to the development of (a) a farmer network to reduce phosphorus inputs, (b) a commitment by Avara, the major poultry industry company in the area, to develop and implement phosphorus recovery technology, and (c) a call for the Wye to be designated a Water Protection Zone. |
Description | HARMONISED NUTRIENT LOAD REDUCTION APPROACHES WITHIN SAFE ECOLOGICAL BOUNDARIES IN CATCHMENTS LOCATED IN NW EU (NEW-HARMONICA) |
Amount | € 2,000,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 10047759 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 08/2022 |
End | 08/2025 |
Description | Soil Phosphorus Status and Water Quality in the River Wye |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Environment Agency |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | Soil Phosphorus Stutus and Water Quality in the River Wye Phase 2: Land Use Change and Phosphorus Balances in the Wye Catchment |
Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Environment Agency |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2022 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Bayesian Networks |
Organisation | University of Melbourne |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are jointly developing a Bayesian network for predicting the transfer of phosphorus in catchments. We are providing the case study catchment on which to build the network. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborator is helping to build the Bayesian network itself. |
Impact | None. Maternity leave by the post-doc conducting the collaboration has disrupted this potential collaboration and has now been abandoned in favour of other approaches. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | DAERA study |
Organisation | Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | University of Leeds (Julia Ortega & Murat Okumah) and AFBI (Donnacha Doody) collaborated with the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to carry behaviour change surveys and interviews on the impact of a government funded nutrient management schemes which focused on improving phosphorus management at farm scale in Northern Ireland. |
Collaborator Contribution | DAERA provided previous data on farmer attitudes based on local questionnaires, and helped in the interpretation of the data collected by the project team. |
Impact | University of Leeds provided DAERA with a report on the outputs of the survey/interviews which was presented to the DAERA Permeant Secretary, other senior DAERA officials and the Agri-Food Industry National Expert Working Group on Sustainable Land Management in Northern Ireland on the middle of 29th of January 2020. This report will contribute to the decision making on an additional spend of up to £37 million by the NI goverment on farm & catchment scale nutrient management schemes in Northern Ireland |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Environment Agency Assistance |
Organisation | Environment Agency |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Analysis of national and catchment river flow and phosphorus concentration data supplied by the EA |
Collaborator Contribution | Supply of river flow and phosphorus concentration data from the Harmonised Monitoring Scheme and within the Wye and Welland catchments |
Impact | None yet |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Regional phosphorus accounting |
Organisation | Natural Resources Institute Finland |
Country | Finland |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We are developing approaches to achieving zero phosphorus balance at regional scale in UK and Finland. |
Collaborator Contribution | They are developing approaches to achieving zero phosphorus balance at regional scale in Finland. |
Impact | None yet. The Covid 19 pandemic has delayed further visits to develop this collaboration and potential output. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | SFA analysis - University of Vienna |
Organisation | University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Developed research collaboration opportunities through mutual interest in SFA analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Helmut Rechburger and his team from Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management in Vienna contributed training to project team member in SFA analysis with agreement to continue research collaboration in the future |
Impact | The collaboration produced one joint paper and a policy report in 2020 in the science area of earth science and modelling of food systems. Further collaboration to develop an SFA for nitrogen and carbon and their interactions with P is underway. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Welland Partnership |
Organisation | Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Analysis of Welland catchment water quality and presentation of project outcomes |
Collaborator Contribution | Helped the project team convene stakeholders in the Welland Catchment via the Allerton Project and Water Friendly Farming Project and provided catchment water quality data from the Welland catchment |
Impact | Sharing of preliminary research results to the collaborators and participants following workshops and dissemination of a list of expert responses from the research team to technical questions from the workshop collaborators and participants |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Wye Catchment Partnership |
Organisation | Wye and Usk Foundation |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Following on from project workshops in the Wye catchment, the project team and the Wye and Use Foundation and their wide range of linked stakeholders are collaborating on an inventory of farming activity and water quality in the Wye catchment. |
Collaborator Contribution | The project team are liaising with specific stakeholders within the Wye and Use Foundation in gathering catchment specific information on farming activities and river phosphorus concentrations. The partners provided access to stakeholder groups and participants, datasets and data collection sites, online meeting platforms for engaging with others |
Impact | Sharing of preliminary research results to the collaborators and participants following workshops and dissemination of a list of expert responses from the research team to technical questions from the workshop collaborators and participants. The outcome of this collaboration will be a joint technical report to Wye catchment stakeholders in support of local policy and planning decisions. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Title | Information Board - Phosphorus |
Description | The Interactive Information Board is a web-based display of national and regional data depicting the current state of phosphorus use in the UK food system that users can interact with to increase awareness of the phosphorus issue |
Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | None yet |
Description | ACP conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Donnacha Doody, AFBI gave a keynote speak entitled 'Regional Constraints on Livestock Production: Opportunities & Challenges' at the Catchment Science International Conference 5-7th Nov 2019. The presentation focused on analysis of the Northern Ireland agri-food system carried out as part of the Rephokus project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | AHDB presentations |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentations on the outcomes of the RePhoKUs project to AHDB monitor groups in Herefordshire and Wiltshire. The talks led to three Farmers weekly articles and commitment from farmers to limit phosphorus inputs in the future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | EA presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | An overview presentation was given to the Environment Agency on the conclusions and outputs of the RePhoKUs project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | GFS Blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Food security blog about the importance of phosphorus in the food system |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Global phosphorus summit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Keynote presentation at the Global Phosphorus Summit, Brasilia 20-22 August |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Group presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Paul Withers and Shane Rothwell gave a presentation to the Environment Agency and Defra on the key research messages from RePhoKUs |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Industry Platform |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Conference presentation to the European Phosphorus Sustainability Platform - 11-13 June 2018, Helsinki |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | International phosphorus conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Keynote presentation at the Phosphorus Symposium in Leuven, Belgium 10-13 September |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Interview for National News |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Paul Withers gave an interview to Radio 4 Farming Programme on the RePhoKUs National Transformation Strategy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Interview for National news |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Shane and Kirsty were interviewed for a BBC Wales Investigates documentary 'What's Killing Our Rivers?' aired 28/9/22 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001cmj3/bbc-wales-investigates-whats-killing-our-rivers . Extracts from the documentary featuring Shane were also aired on the BBC lunchtime and evening news and the BBC R4 Farming Today programme, and was featured in an online BBC News article. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Interview for national news |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Paul Withers gave an interview to BBC Breakfast on a news feature on Phosphorus Pollution of the River Wye.Extracts from the documentary featuring Paul were also aired on the BBC lunchtime and evening news and the BBC R4 Farming Today programme, |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Keynote speaker |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Shane Rothwell was keynote speaker at a Lancaster Environment Centre 'Farming Innovation Event' where a mixed audience of around 40 local farmers, NGO's, govt. agencies and academics came together to discuss recent research activity in LEC on the 22/2/23. Shane presented the RePhoKUs project work and two key outcomes were contact with a Natural England CSF Officer who was interested in further conversations and an invitation to present at a local Defra farm visit about slurry management. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | McGill University Seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Seminar given on the work of the RePhoKUs project to McGill University, Canada |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Media articles |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 12 quotes of the RePhoKUs research work in the Times, Guardian, Mirror, Farmers Weekly, Country File Magazine, Hereford Times, Midland Farmer. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | NI stakeholder workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Rephokus project team hosted a stakeholder workshop in AFBI Hillsborough on the 26th of February 2020 to present the outputs from the Phosphorus Substance Flow Analysis of the Northern Ireland Food system carried out by Lancaster University (Shane Rothwell). The workshop involved 30 stakeholders from across different sector of the agri-food industry who discussed future scenarios for the management of phosphorus in Northern Ireland. The workshop resulted in very positive feedback from the participant, invitations to present the work to others within DAERA and requests for further meetings from the agri-food industry. Data from the phosphorus SFA was also provided to the DAERA chief scientist for his presentation to the DAERA board on the sustainability of the NI food system which was also on the 26th of February 2020. Data from the P SFA is also being discussed at a meeting between AFBI (Donnacha Doody) and the special advisor (Spad) to the Minister for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs on the 12th of March |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | National Phosphorus Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | National Phosphorus Workshop to obtain feedback on the pathways to transition to a circular economy for phosphorus and help develop a National Transformation Strategy for phosphorus in the UK food system. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | P350 Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public outreach event and workshop celebrating the 350 anniversary of the discovery of phosphorus held at Lancaster University over two days 8-9 October 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Policy brief |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Policy brief on the structure of the UK food system and the need to increase its resilience to international shocks. Published on the GFS website with a project outline |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Somerset Catchment Partnership |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Presentation on the RePhoKUs project to the Somerset Catchment Partnership involving a range of NGOs. The meeting generated potential future work on nutrient accounting in a phosphorus polluted river system, The Somerset Levels. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | TropAg, Brisbane 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation by Brent Jacobs from the project team to symposium on: The outlook for global scarcity of phosphorus reserves for agriculture, TropAg 2019, International Tropical Agriculture Conference 11-13 November 2019, Brisbane Australia. RePhoKUs featured in the presentation as an example of the need for comprehensive whole of society approaches to phosphorus governance and led to an ABC Rural Radio interview on phosphorus circular economy and agriculture. A review paper is in preparation based on symposium presentations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | UNEP P sustainable Economies Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | This global webinar was organised to demonstrate the need for sustainable phosphorus management in lakes through illustration of global case studies |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.unep.org/events/unep-event/demonstrating-need-sustainable-phosphorus-management-lakes-gl... |
Description | Welland workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation to the Welland catchment partnership (mainly farmers) on a catchment nutrient budget and the results of a catchment water quality analysis |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021 |
Description | Workshop presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Presentation to an international workshop of phosphorus scientists, industry and policy makers in Northern Ireland, 27-30 July, Belfast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Wye Nutrient Management Board |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | A presentation on the preliminary outcomes of the nutrient budget and water quality analysis in the Wye catchment. This presentation was requested following a Wye catchment workshop because the results have significant implications for planning in the catchment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Wye catchment workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Presentation to the Wye catchment partnership (mainly farmers) on a catchment nutrient budget and the results of a catchment water quality analysis |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021 |