Peak Phosphorous; Another Resource War

     Farm columnist Alan Guebert said in his September 30th column that our next strategic problem might be phosphorous.  He quotes C. Robert Taylor of Auburn University, who says that the global phosphorus market is, "the gravest strategic issue facing the United States that you've never heard of."
    At current usage rates, the U.S. supply will be exhausted in 15 to 20 years.   After that, who owns and controls the remaining world supply of phosphorous may matter more than who controls the remaining oil.  China and Morocco together hold 60% of the world supply, and the U.S., South Africa,  and Jordan hold the rest.   China imposes a 100 to 175% tax on phosphorous exports.  And trade in phosphorous is dominated by just three corporations:  Cargill,  Potash of Saskatchewan, and a private Moroccan monopoly.  Which raises the question that perhaps BHP's real reason for wanting control of Potash of Saskatchewan--is for its phosphorous.