Our Nutrient World The challenge to produce more food & energy with less pollution. Key Messages for Rio+20

The sustainability of our world depends fundamentally on nutrients. In order to feed 7 billion people, humans have more than doubled global terrestrial cycling of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The world’s N and P cycles are now out of balance, causing major environmental, health and economic problems that have received far too little attention. Insufficient access to nutrients still limits food production and contributes to land degradation in some parts of the world, while limited P reserves represent a risk for future global food security. Unless action is taken, increases in population and per capita consumption of energy and animal products will exacerbate nutrient losses, pollution levels and land degradation, further threatening the quality of ou