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Finally a piece of great news ! An elegant simple, and synergistic solution to an exceptionally difficult world wide problem.UK scientist wins prize for invention that could help avert ‘phosphogeddon’Phosphate, key to food production, is choking waterways, but a new sponge-like material returns it to the soil for cropsRobin McKie Science EditorSun 2 Feb 2025 17.00 AEDTIt is one of the least appreciated substances on the planet and its misuse is now threatening to unleash environmental mayhem. Phosphorus is a key component of fertilisers that have become vital in providing food for the world. But at the same time, the spread of these phosphorus compounds – known as phosphates – into rivers, lakes and streams is spreading algal blooms that are killing fish stocks and marine life on a huge scale.It is a striking mismatch that is now being tackled by a project of remarkable simplicity. The company Rookwood Operations, based in Wells, Somerset, has launched a product that enables phosphates to be extracted from problem areas and then reused on farmland.This week one of the company’s founders, Jane Pearce, will be awarded a £75,000 Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award for her role in setting up the project. “Our product has a straightforward goal – to transfer phosphates from rivers and lakes where they are causing real damage and move them in a simple manner to farmland, where they can be of use in growing crops,” Pearce told the Observer last week.The key to the intriguing transfer is a substance simply known as Phosphate Removal Material or PRM. Recently developed, it is about to undergo trials with a local water company in Somerset and these will be followed up in a few months with tests with a national company.“Essentially, the PRM we have developed acts like a sponge that absorbs phosphates,” said Pearce, who set up Rookwood Operations with her partner, Liam, and a friend, Josh Hares. “It sits in the water in an open container until it has absorbed as much phosphate as possible and it is then transferred to farmland. PRM is made entirely of natural materials, so it can be put on to a field and left there for its phosphate fertiliser to be taken up by crops. On its own, PRM will enhance the quality of the soil.[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/02/uk-scientist-wins-prize-for-invention-that-could-help-avert-phosphogeddon[/URL]
Finally a piece of great news ! An elegant simple, and synergistic solution to an exceptionally difficult world wide problem.
Phosphate, key to food production, is choking waterways, but a new sponge-like material returns it to the soil for crops
Robin McKie Science Editor
Sun 2 Feb 2025 17.00 AEDT
It is one of the least appreciated substances on the planet and its misuse is now threatening to unleash environmental mayhem. Phosphorus is a key component of fertilisers that have become vital in providing food for the world. But at the same time, the spread of these phosphorus compounds – known as phosphates – into rivers, lakes and streams is spreading algal blooms that are killing fish stocks and marine life on a huge scale.
It is a striking mismatch that is now being tackled by a project of remarkable simplicity. The company Rookwood Operations, based in Wells, Somerset, has launched a product that enables phosphates to be extracted from problem areas and then reused on farmland.
This week one of the company’s founders, Jane Pearce, will be awarded a £75,000 Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award for her role in setting up the project. “Our product has a straightforward goal – to transfer phosphates from rivers and lakes where they are causing real damage and move them in a simple manner to farmland, where they can be of use in growing crops,” Pearce told the Observer last week.
The key to the intriguing transfer is a substance simply known as Phosphate Removal Material or PRM. Recently developed, it is about to undergo trials with a local water company in Somerset and these will be followed up in a few months with tests with a national company.
“Essentially, the PRM we have developed acts like a sponge that absorbs phosphates,” said Pearce, who set up Rookwood Operations with her partner, Liam, and a friend, Josh Hares. “It sits in the water in an open container until it has absorbed as much phosphate as possible and it is then transferred to farmland. PRM is made entirely of natural materials, so it can be put on to a field and left there for its phosphate fertiliser to be taken up by crops. On its own, PRM will enhance the quality of the soil.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/02/uk-scientist-wins-prize-for-invention-that-could-help-avert-phosphogeddon[/URL]
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