Mini Seminar 'Phosphorus Shortage: European challenges'

The threatening shortage of phosphorus – a key component of fertilizers – is crucial for the world’s food supplies. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for all plants and animals. It is also one of the three key components (together with nitrogen and potassium) of fertilizers, and therefore crucial for the world’s food supply system. Phosphorus shortage will be one of the most pressing problems of the coming years. Global supply is limited and concentrated in just a few countries. Demand is increasing rapidly. Since there is not yet an alternative for phosphorus, innovative strategies are needed to ensure its availability. MEP Bas Eickhout, MEP Lena Ek and the Nutrient Flow Task Group (NFTG) intend this Mini Seminar to accelerate the search for solutions and help develop opportunities created by the phosphorus crisis.The seminar is organised as part of the DPRN process: Phosphorus depletion: the invisible crisis.

European Parliament Brussels, A. Spinelli Building, Room 5E1
4 March 2010, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Programme
10.30 a.m. Opening mini seminar, MEP Bas Eickhout (Greens/ EFA)
10.40 a.m. Introduction on Phosphorous Shortage, Arno Rosemarin (Stockholm Environmental Institute)
11.10 a.m. Short presentation on Swedish Phosphorous Recycling Policy, Linda Gårdstam (Swedish EPA)
11.30 a.m. Panel Discussion

Panel Members:
• Timothy Hall, DG Research, European Commission
• Arno Rosemarin, Stockholm Environmental Institute
• Willem Schipper, Thermphos International
• Arne Panesar, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)
• Helias Udo de Haes, TA Steering Group
1 p.m. Conclusions, MEP Bas Eickhout (Greens/ EFA)
1.15 p.m. Lunch and informal discussions

Registration:
Because of limited places, please register: bas.eickhout@europarl.europa.eu.