Phosphorus (P) is a non-renewable and non-substitutable resource with a wide range of applications. At the same time, excessive P in the environment contributes to harmful algae blooms, which can have significant harmful effects on supporting ecosystems.
In 2021, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) provided funding for Pollution Probe to lead the first provincial study of how phosphorus is used and its movement through Ontario’s economy, in collaboration with academic experts and their teams from Université Laval, McGill University, and the University of Waterloo’s Water Institute.
Report findings provide important insight into how P is used and where losses occur, a necessary first step for informing further discussions about potential opportunities for nutrient recovery and reuse technologies and solutions. Improving the recovery and reuse of phosphorus is essential for reducing nutrient pollution in Ontario’s waterways, improving long-term food security and agricultural soil health, supporting nutrient-related economic growth and informing national and regional policy.