Safer Phosphates™ is committed to activities striving for sustainable development. Our goal is to reduce the environmental footprint of fertilisers, and propose alternative options, especially with respect to heavy metals.
Soil pollution is one of the 10 major soil threats identified by the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in its Status of the World’s Soil Resources report. Whether local or diffuse, soil pollution occurs from a range of sources. Those resulting from anthropogenic activities are increasingly problematic. The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health has highlighted the impact that environmental pollution has on death and disease, pointing out that the way in which environmental threats are governed need to change.
The Global Soil Partnership argues that pollution is a soil threat that responds directly to policy initiatives, where there is a clear link to the pollution source and sufficient public concern. Awareness is growing, and with the World Soil Charter that was agreed in 2015, a need for implementing regulations and limitations on pollutant accumulation has been established. Recently, the United Nations Environmental Assembly, adopted a resolution in which it calls for quicker action and wide collaboration, including industry. It commits to strengthening and enforcing laws on pollution. The FAO is currently working on an International Code of Conduct for the Use and Management of Fertilisers to support and implement the Voluntary Guidelines on Sustainable Soil Management. It has passed two online consultations and is to be presented on the 26th session of the Committee of Agriculture (COAG, Rome, 1st-5th October 2018).