Sustainable Phosphate Futures for New Zealand
The Sustainable Phosphate Futures for New Zealand project was established to explore strategies to enhance the efficient use of phosphate resources as well as to review strategies to enhance the security of supply of phosphate for New Zealand agriculture through the use of New Zealand sourced phosphate. The project reports reviews issues and opportunities to enhance the efficency of use of phosphate fertilisers as well as the use of New Zealand sourced phosphate. Key findings include:
· New Zealand has significant accessible, on-shore sources of phosphate. These include phosphate deposits in Clarendon, Otago (containing at least 1.6Mt of phosphate ore) and in North Canterbury and Kaikoura (containing a potential combined 10-20 Mt). There are also deposits in South Canterbury and Waitaki.
· The carbon footprint for domestically sourced phosphorus would be approximately half that of imported material.
· The quarrying process for phosphate rock has similar environmental effects to that of limestone.