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Global nutrient equity for people and the planet

Nature Food volume 2, pages 857–861 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

The industrial world has converted inert soil and atmospheric nutrients into reactive fertilizer flows that endanger water quality, biodiversity and climate. Simultaneously, poor nations starve because of the shortage of these nutrients in agricultural soils. Here we propose a redistribution of accumulated nutrients to enhance food security while counteracting the current degradation of critical Earth system processes. Residue and sediment nutrients could be processed and transported to food-insecure regions through the opposite logistics used to ship rock phosphate across the globe. Financing through trading accumulated rights could trigger the required innovations in processing, logistics and thinking. Such a socially just ‘one Earth currency’ could leverage a transformation towards resilience, equity and dignity across the critical Earth system processes.

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Fig. 1: Inequity creates wastage and instability.
Fig. 2: Redistribution of nutrients for food security and resilience.
Fig. 3: Synergetic sustainability in the use of nutrients as a global commons.
Fig. 4: Trading fair nutrient rights.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Törmälä for creating the artwork.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainability Science, LUT University, Lappeenranta, Finland

    Helena Kahiluoto

  2. Agroecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Helena Kahiluoto

  3. Agricultural Soil Science, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    Helena Kahiluoto

  4. Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK

    Kate E. Pickett

  5. Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, University of York, York, UK

    Kate E. Pickett

  6. The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

    Will Steffen

  7. Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm, Sweden

    Will Steffen

Authors
  1. Helena Kahiluoto
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All authors contributed to the conceptualization and the writing of this paper.

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Correspondence to Helena Kahiluoto.

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Kahiluoto, H., Pickett, K.E. & Steffen, W. Global nutrient equity for people and the planet. Nat Food 2, 857–861 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00391-w

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