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Energy decarbonization threatens food security by reducing the availability of cheap sulfur

Nature Food volume 4, pages 442–444 (2023)Cite this article

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The overlooked link between fossil fuel-derived sulfur and the production of phosphate fertilizers may lower agricultural productivity and harm global food security unless action is taken.

Application of fertilizers containing nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) have underpinned the dramatic increases in food production (gross production increased 3.7-fold between 1961 and 2020 (ref. 1)), predominantly from improving yields with intensive agricultural systems2. However, the decarbonization of the energy sector will reduce the availability of cheap sulfur, which could jeopardize fertilizer supply and have major implications for food security. Here we discuss the risks of this overlooked link and approaches to mitigate them.

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Fig. 1: Material flows related to production and use of phosphate fertilizers.

References

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Acknowledgements

We thank the UCL Geography Drawing Office for assistance with the diagram.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Risk and Disaster, UCL, London, UK

    Simon Day

  2. School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Peter Alexander

  3. Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Peter Alexander

  4. Department of Geography, UCL, London, UK

    Mark Maslin

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  1. Simon Day
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  2. Peter Alexander
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All authors contributed equally to conceiving the idea and drafting the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Peter Alexander.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Day, S., Alexander, P. & Maslin, M. Energy decarbonization threatens food security by reducing the availability of cheap sulfur. Nat Food 4, 442–444 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023-00782-1

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