ASPNet Stakeholder Brief

Abstract

Phosphorus is fundamental to agricultural productivity, food security, ecosystem functioning, and human well-being. Yet its distribution and management across Africa are characterized by striking contrasts. Many farming systems experience chronic phosphorus deficiency, low or imbalanced nutrient inputs, and restricted access to appropriate fertilizers and other phosphorus sources. At the same time, phosphorus is lost through food, farming, sanitation, and waste systems, while poorly managed nutrient flows contribute to eutrophication, biodiversity loss, and declining water quality. Africa also contains a major share of global phosphate rock resources, creating opportunities for agricultural development and regional value creation—but mineral resources alone do not guarantee equitable access or sustainable outcomes. The central question is therefore not simply how to use more phosphorus. It is how phosphorus can be sourced, accessed, managed, retained, recovered, and governed in ways that strengthen healthy soils, resilient food systems, environmental sustainability, and long-term livelihoods.