The 8th Sustainable Phosphorus Summit (SPS8), set for 30 September – 3 October 2025, will take place in Accra, Ghana—marking the first time this influential global conference is held in Africa. Over four days, delegates will gather at the Alisa Hotel in North Ridge to confront critical threats and opportunities related to phosphorus in agriculture, food systems, and water quality. The summit is co-organized by Lancaster University, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Rothamsted Research, Ghana’s Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.

Significance of Holding SPS8 in Africa

This is the first SPS event held on African soil—bringing local realities, soil challenges, and African innovations into global nutrient governance debate. By centering Africa, the summit aims to address both regional phosphorus deficits and global crises in resource distribution and environmental impacts :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.

Phosphorus: Resource, Risk & Rising Demand

Phosphorus is essential for crop growth and livestock feed. While phosphate rock reserves are not in immediate danger, their uneven global distribution—heavily concentrated in a few countries—and surging demand from green technologies (like lithium-ion batteries) raise long-term concerns about supply security :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

In high-income regions, overuse of phosphorus leads to runoff, eutrophication, and toxic algal blooms in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters—posing threats to biodiversity and human health :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

Africa’s Dual Phosphorus Challenge

• Low soil phosphorus levels: Many African countries show declining fertilizer use since the late 20th century. This shortage constrains yields amid growing population and climate stress :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Limited organic recycling: Smallholder farmers often lack livestock and organic inputs; cattle manure recycling is insufficient in most systems :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• Micronutrient imbalances: Excessive phosphorus can inhibit zinc uptake in soils, exacerbating nutritional deficiencies in communities reliant on plant-based diets :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

Homegrown Innovations & Pilot Practices

A range of locally adapted solutions is emerging:

• Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), championed by African agronomists, optimizes phosphorus use in combination with organic amendments and soil chemistry understanding :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
• Use of phosphate rock in acidic soils—common across many West African regions—supports slow-release phosphorus uptake suited to local agro-ecosystems :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Biomass recycling—from urban organic waste to crop residues—offers nutrient recovery opportunities, though such systems remain at pilot scale :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
• Water and soil monitoring initiatives, often supported by research networks, provide data to optimise local phosphorus application and protect water bodies :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

SPS8 Program Structure & Thematic Focus

The summit programme is organised around six key thematic domains:

• Food Security: Enhancing phosphorus-use efficiency in food production systems.
• Fertiliser Access and Use: Expanding equitable access while correcting regional imbalances.
• Impacts on Biodiversity & Health: Assessing and mitigating phosphorus pollution effects on ecosystems and human well-being.
• Interactions: Exploring phosphorus’s complex relationships with nitrogen, carbon cycles, soil health, and climate dynamics.
• Sustainable Futures: Securing long-term phosphorus sourcing strategies and circular economy approaches.
• Global Governance: Advancing frameworks that ensure equitable, science-based control and coordination of phosphorus resources :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.

Objectives & Strategic Outcomes

SPS8 is positioned to drive systemic change through:

• The creation of the African Sustainable Phosphorus Network (ASPN), aimed at linking science, policy, and farmer communities across African countries.
• Mobilization of local and regional “Phosphorus Champions” to advocate for improved nutrient policies, sustainable practices, and farmer education :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• The design of scalable pilot programmes—for biomass recycling, phosphate rock use, and phosphorus recovery from wastewater—that can be replicated across diverse agro-ecological zones.
• Fostering knowledge exchange between Africa and regions experiencing phosphorus surplus, promoting balanced global nutrient management.

Voices from the Summit

Dr Grace Kangara, an SPS8 organiser, highlights the local significance: “Africa boasts some of the most locally adaptable soil fertility management innovations including Integrated Soil Fertility Management… This summit is a chance to bring African voices and realities to the forefront” :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.

Prof. Phil Haygarth of Lancaster University reflects on the summit’s global relevance: “Making soils more phosphorus efficient in Africa is critical for the future of world food production, but this must also go alongside a focus on novel innovations in phosphorus recycling” :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.

Broader Implications & Global Relevance

While Africa’s phosphorus needs are urgent, inefficiencies in high-income countries underscore the global duality: scarcity threatens productivity in some regions, pollution undermines ecosystems in others. Closed-loop phosphorus strategies (fertiliser efficiency, waste recoveries) can help reconcile these divergent challenges :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

Also, heightened demand from green industries—especially lithium battery manufacturers—puts additional pressure on phosphate supplies, signaling the need for governance beyond agriculture alone.

Closing Thoughts

SPS8 represents a pivotal moment in global nutrient governance. Its placement in Africa ensures that historically under-represented voices shape future strategies. Through combining innovation, policy, and community engagement, the summit aims to build a resilient phosphorus management model—essential for safeguarding food security, water quality, and environmental health regionally and globally.

Event at a Glance

Date: 30 September – 3 October 2025
Venue: Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra, Ghana
Organisers: Lancaster University; UKCEH; Rothamsted Research; CSIR Ghana; Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Session themes: Food security, Fertilisers, Biodiversity & Health, Nutrient-Climate Interactions, Sustainable Sourcing, Global Governance
Outcomes: ASPN launch; network of Phosphorus Champions; scaled pilots; research-policy linkages