{"id":42272,"date":"2026-05-06T10:23:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T14:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=42272"},"modified":"2026-05-06T10:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T14:32:44","slug":"global-phosphorus-supply-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/global-phosphorus-supply-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"The Next Resource Crisis: Phosphorus Emerges as a Growing Global Security Concern"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Phosphorus is a strategic resource<\/strong>: Essential for fertilizers, food production and energy technologies, phosphorus is increasingly viewed as critical to economic stability and national security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supply chains are fragile and concentrated<\/strong>: A small number of countries control most phosphate production, making global supply vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions and environmental disruptions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sustainability is key to long-term resilience<\/strong>: Recycling phosphorus, improving fertilizer efficiency and reducing overuse are crucial strategies to secure future supply while minimizing environmental impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">Phosphorus, an often overlooked but essential chemical element, is emerging as a strategic resource that underpins some of the world\u2019s most critical systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many countries, including the United States, now regard phosphorus-related resources as vital to national security due to their role in agricultural and industrial applications, ranging from fertilizers to batteries, and because they are increasingly difficult to secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Global supply chains for phosphorus-related resources are highly concentrated, with production and processing largely controlled by a small number of countries, making availability highly vulnerable to geopolitical, economic and environmental disruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These pressures are prompting renewed attention to how phosphorus is sourced, used and managed as governments and industries look for ways to reduce risk in an increasingly constrained global system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Justin Baker, an associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University, is helping address these challenges through his work with the <a href=\"https:\/\/steps-center.org\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/steps-center.org\/\">Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker\u2019s research focuses on developing and applying economic and spatial models to better understand how phosphorus moves through agricultural, industrial and global trade systems and how those systems respond to policy, market and environmental shocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the following article, Baker examines why phosphorus has become so essential, how its supply chain creates systemic vulnerabilities and what strategies could strengthen a more resilient and sustainable phosphorus system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#why-phosphorus-is-important\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#why-phosphorus-is-important\">Why Phosphorus is Important <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#phosphorous-supply-chain\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#phosphorous-supply-chain\">How the Phosphorous Supply Chain Works \u2014 and Why It\u2019s Fragile<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#resilient-phosphorus-supply\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#resilient-phosphorus-supply\">What a More Resilient Phosphorus Supply Looks Like<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#phosphate-mining-environmental-effects\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#phosphate-mining-environmental-effects\">How Phosphate Mining Affects the Environment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#phosphorus-sustainability\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#phosphorus-sustainability\">How to Improve Phosphorus Sustainability<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-phosphorus-is-important\"><strong>Why Phosphorus is Important<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Phosphorus is a chemical element that serves as one of the fundamental building blocks of life, playing a central role in DNA, RNA and cellular energy transfer. Without it, plants cannot grow, animals cannot sustain metabolism and ecosystems would collapse.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In nature, phosphorus is almost never found in its elemental form. Instead, it occurs in minerals called phosphates, especially calcium phosphate minerals such as apatite. These minerals are the main source of phosphorus and are mined as \u201cphosphate rock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1.png\" data-fullsize=\"1500x844\" data-zoom=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"A close-up of a dark, textured rock with gray and black hues.\" class=\"wp-image-42282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Phosphate is commonly found in sedimentary rock deposits, where it forms over millions of years from the accumulation of organic material and mineral processes. Photo by A_Pobedimskiy\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once extracted as phosphate rock, the calcium phosphate minerals are processed and refined into usable chemical forms that support a wide range of industrial applications, most importantly the production of fertilizers that are essential for modern agriculture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phosphorus-based fertilizers, applied by farmers to agricultural fields, help keep soils fertile by replacing nutrients removed during harvest, giving plants the phosphorus they need to grow strong roots, produce energy and support healthy growth and high crop yields.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"is-text wp-block-ncst-accordion\" >\n    <div class=\"accordion isLinked\" id=\"ncst-accordion-xy43hs\">\n          \n<details class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item\" name=\"xy43hs\"  >\n      <summary class=\"accordion-item__header\">\n        <span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\">\n          <span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span>\n        <\/span>\n        <h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h6\">Understanding Phosphorous: From Rocks to Plant Nutrition<\/h2>\n      <\/summary>\n      <p>\n        \n\n<p><strong>Elemental phosphorus<\/strong>: Pure phosphorus in its basic form; very reactive and not found freely in nature. Used to make industrial chemicals and processed into other phosphorus compounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Phosphate rock<\/strong>: A natural rock mined from the earth that contains phosphorus. Used as the main raw material to produce phosphate fertilizers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Inorganic phosphate<\/strong>: A form of phosphorus in fertilizers that plants can use directly. Used in commercial fertilizers like diammonium phosphate to help crops grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Organic phosphorus<\/strong>: Phosphorus found in plants and animals that becomes available in soil as they break down. Helps recycle nutrients in natural and agricultural ecosystems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dissolved phosphate<\/strong>: Phosphorus mixed in water that plants can easily take up through their roots. Supports immediate plant nutrition in soils and waterways.<\/p>\n\n\n      <\/p>\n  <\/details>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond agriculture, phosphorus is also used in a wide range of industrial applications, including food additives, detergents and energy technologies such as lithium iron phosphate batteries used in electric vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any disruption in phosphorus supply can ripple through global agriculture and industry, affecting food production and critical technologies like energy storage while exposing countries to economic and security risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"phosphorous-supply-chain\"><strong>How the Phosphorous Supply Chain Works \u2014 and Why It\u2019s Fragile<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Global phosphate rock production is highly concentrated, with a small number of countries dominating supply, most notably Morocco and China. Other key producers, including the U.S. and Russia, play important but comparatively smaller roles in global supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This concentration, combined with the fact that phosphate rock is a nonrenewable resource, makes the phosphorus supply chain inherently fragile. Agricultural and industrial systems worldwide depend on stable access to a finite resource controlled by a limited number of suppliers, according to Baker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Economic and political shocks such as trade restrictions, conflict and policy changes can reverberate through global phosphorus markets. For example, China has periodically limited phosphate exports, tightening supply and driving price volatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBecause there are relatively few major suppliers of phosphate rock globally, trade-related restrictions on exports from these major suppliers can have a discernible impact on markets, availability and domestic supply chain risks,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1.png\" data-fullsize=\"1500x844\" data-zoom=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Aerial view of an industrial site with factories, smokestacks, raw material mounds, and green fields in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-42281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An aerial view of a phosphate mine processing facility in southeastern Idaho. Photo by Brian Brown\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When major suppliers restrict exports of phosphate products, global buyers must compete for a smaller supply, driving up prices. These higher costs raise input expenses across agriculture and industry and can ultimately contribute to higher consumer prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar pressures can emerge when environmental shocks such as hurricanes or floods disrupt mining operations, processing facilities or transportation networks, temporarily reducing the flow of phosphorus products to global markets and intensifying competition among buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, industrial manufacturing, storage and distribution systems are most exposed to localized disruptions such as natural disasters, while global markets and resource supply are more vulnerable to external geopolitical, market or trade shocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"resilient-phosphorus-supply\"><strong>What a More Resilient Phosphorus Supply Looks Like<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Regions such as the European Union, Southeast Asia and Latin America import significant volumes of phosphate products due to limited reserves and processing capacity, relying on external suppliers for both industrial-grade phosphates and fertilizer inputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the U.S., which sources most of its phosphate rock from domestic mining operations in Central Florida, North Carolina and Idaho, imports some phosphorus products, though it\u2019s relatively resilient to global supply disruptions compared to other regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This resilience is supported by domestic reserves and production capacity and, in some regions, high historical application rates of fertilizer and bioavailable phosphorus in soils that can buffer short-term reductions in fertilizer usage without immediate impacts on crop yields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker said U.S. resilience could weaken over the long-term as phosphate reserves are depleted at relatively high rates. The U.S. holds an estimated 1 billion metric tons of phosphate reserves and produced about 21 million to 22 million metric tons between 2021 and 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-custombg-one-text-color wp-block-ncst-pullquote\">\n  <div class=\"pullquote-container\">\n    <p class=\"pullquote-content\">&#8220;Improving resilience will require a combination of supply and demand side actions.&#8221;<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The U.S. has taken action to address growing concerns about supply chain vulnerability. That includes adding phosphate rock to the Critical Minerals Lists in 2025 and then invoking the Defense Production Act in 2026 to secure supplies of elemental phosphorus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both actions direct federal support toward phosphorus production and contracts, signaling government backing that may reduce uncertainty for investors and encourage growth in domestic phosphate processing capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, Baker said the actions may strengthen domestic supply chains by increasing mining and processing capacity but will not address long-term vulnerabilities and must be paired with efforts to improve efficiency, recycling and demand-side management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cImproving resilience will require a combination of supply and demand side actions,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"phosphate-mining-environmental-effects\"><strong>How Phosphate Mining Affects the Environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the U.S. seeks to expand its domestic phosphorus supply, Baker said fast-tracked approvals and weakened oversight for new or expanded mining projects could increase the potential for environmental damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phosphate mining and fertilizer production can cause significant land disturbance and generate waste containing heavy metals and radioactive elements that pose environmental risks if not properly managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Runoff and improper waste handling can contaminate water bodies with excess nutrients, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion that harm aquatic ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1.png\" data-fullsize=\"1500x844\" data-zoom=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Green algae covering the surface of a pond with reeds growing on the right side.\" class=\"wp-image-42289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harmful algal blooms occur when excess nutrients \u2014 often phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilizer runoff and industrial sources \u2014 fuel rapid algae growth in lakes and waterways, depleting oxygen and threatening aquatic life and water quality. Photo by Sergei Dubrovskii\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker cited the wastewater spill in Piney Point, Florida, as an example of the kind of damage that can occur in such incidents. In March 2021, a breached reservoir at a former phosphate plant released more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay, triggering algal blooms and causing widespread fish kills and other marine life die-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCareful planning, especially around industrial waste management, and environmental regulation can protect against events like this,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker added that the environmental impacts of expanding domestic phosphate production are more complex than they may appear, noting that risks are more likely to be concentrated in mining and processing rather than downstream use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also suggested that increased domestic production coupled with reduced imports could raise costs for farmers and other consumers by limiting access to lower-cost global supply, potentially lowering overall phosphorus use and reducing runoff into surface water systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"phosphorus-sustainability\">How to Improve Phosphorus Sustainability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/2026\/03\/28\/could-critical-mineral-designation-for-phosphate-rock-ease-market-tension-and-support-sustainable-phosphorus-solutions\/\">blog post<\/a>, Baker and other members of his Resource Economics and Sustainability Lab said the U.S. decision to designate phosphate rock as a critical mineral could help enable policies that support more sustainable phosphorus use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the supply side, the designation could encourage industry to recover and reuse phosphorus from sources such as wastewater, human waste, surface water and industrial byproducts from mining and fertilizer production, expanding alternative supplies of fertilizer inputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, on the demand side, incentives could encourage farmers and other users to rely more on alternative sources such as organic fertilizers and nutrients already present in soils, while supporting shifts to less phosphorus-intensive crops and promoting the innovation of alternative fertilizers and technologies that improve phosphorus-use efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, these efforts could reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, make better use of recycled nutrients and ease pressure on supply chains by lowering demand for new fertilizer inputs and increasing reuse of phosphorus from waste and industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1.png\" data-fullsize=\"1500x844\" data-zoom=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Close-up of a spreader dispersing granules on a field under bright sunlight.\" class=\"wp-image-42279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A tractor spreads fertilizer across a field. Farmers commonly use phosphorus-rich fertilizers derived from phosphate rock to replenish soil nutrients and support healthy crop growth. Photo by AleksandarDickov\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker and his colleagues in the STEPS Center are increasingly weighing long-term phosphate mining expansion against strategies focused on recycling phosphorus and using \u201clegacy phosphorus\u201d already stored in agricultural soils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One challenge with legacy phosphorus is that \u201cit requires a behavioral switch for some farmers to take advantage of this free resource, even with freely available expert guidance on application rates and soil nutrient content,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, some farmers may overapply fertilizer when they are uncertain about how much phosphorus is already in their soils, building up reserves until they are more confident in managing these \u201clegacy\u201d nutrients and can use them to reduce input costs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker concluded that new technologies such as soil sensors and enhanced efficiency fertilizers are important tools in improving how farmers measure and apply phosphorus, but that the greater challenge may be behavioral and institutional.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou need buy-in from farmers and appropriately designed policy incentives to support innovation and get new technologies to scale,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"<!-- wp:ncst\/dynamic-header {\"block\":\"ncst\/default-post-header\"} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/default-post-header {\"caption\":\"Granules of diammonium phosphate, or DAP, fertilizer fill a bag. DAP is the world\u2019s most widely used phosphorus fertilizer, helping farmers maintain soil fertility and support crop production. Photo by iamporpla\/iStock\",\"displayCategoryID\":460,\"subtitle\":\"Geopolitical, economic and environmental disruptions are raising new concerns about the long-term availability and stability of phosphorus.\"} \/-->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/dynamic-header -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Phosphorus is a strategic resource<\/strong>: Essential for fertilizers, food production and energy technologies, phosphorus is increasingly viewed as critical to economic stability and national security.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Supply chains are fragile and concentrated<\/strong>: A small number of countries control most phosphate production, making global supply vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions and environmental disruptions.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Sustainability is key to long-term resilience<\/strong>: Recycling phosphorus, improving fertilizer efficiency and reducing overuse are crucial strategies to secure future supply while minimizing environmental impact.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"className\":\"is-style-lead\"} -->\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">Phosphorus, an often overlooked but essential chemical element, is emerging as a strategic resource that underpins some of the world\u2019s most critical systems.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Many countries, including the United States, now regard phosphorus-related resources as vital to national security due to their role in agricultural and industrial applications, ranging from fertilizers to batteries, and because they are increasingly difficult to secure.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Global supply chains for phosphorus-related resources are highly concentrated, with production and processing largely controlled by a small number of countries, making availability highly vulnerable to geopolitical, economic and environmental disruptions.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>These pressures are prompting renewed attention to how phosphorus is sourced, used and managed as governments and industries look for ways to reduce risk in an increasingly constrained global system.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Justin Baker, an associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University, is helping address these challenges through his work with the <a href=\"https:\/\/steps-center.org\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/steps-center.org\/\">Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Baker\u2019s research focuses on developing and applying economic and spatial models to better understand how phosphorus moves through agricultural, industrial and global trade systems and how those systems respond to policy, market and environmental shocks.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In the following article, Baker examines why phosphorus has become so essential, how its supply chain creates systemic vulnerabilities and what strategies could strengthen a more resilient and sustainable phosphorus system.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#why-phosphorus-is-important\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#why-phosphorus-is-important\">Why Phosphorus is Important <\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#phosphorous-supply-chain\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#phosphorous-supply-chain\">How the Phosphorous Supply Chain Works \u2014 and Why It\u2019s Fragile<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#resilient-phosphorus-supply\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#resilient-phosphorus-supply\">What a More Resilient Phosphorus Supply Looks Like<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#phosphate-mining-environmental-effects\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#phosphate-mining-environmental-effects\">How Phosphate Mining Affects the Environment<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"#phosphorus-sustainability\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#phosphorus-sustainability\">How to Improve Phosphorus Sustainability<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6]} -->\n<h2 id=\"why-phosphorus-is-important\"><strong>Why Phosphorus is Important<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Phosphorus is a chemical element that serves as one of the fundamental building blocks of life, playing a central role in DNA, RNA and cellular energy transfer. Without it, plants cannot grow, animals cannot sustain metabolism and ecosystems would collapse.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In nature, phosphorus is almost never found in its elemental form. Instead, it occurs in minerals called phosphates, especially calcium phosphate minerals such as apatite. These minerals are the main source of phosphorus and are mined as \u201cphosphate rock.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":42282,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1.png\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/phosphate-rock-iStock-505091176-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"A close-up of a dark, textured rock with gray and black hues.\" class=\"wp-image-42282\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Phosphate is commonly found in sedimentary rock deposits, where it forms over millions of years from the accumulation of organic material and mineral processes. Photo by A_Pobedimskiy\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Once extracted as phosphate rock, the calcium phosphate minerals are processed and refined into usable chemical forms that support a wide range of industrial applications, most importantly the production of fertilizers that are essential for modern agriculture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Phosphorus-based fertilizers, applied by farmers to agricultural fields, help keep soils fertile by replacing nutrients removed during harvest, giving plants the phosphorus they need to grow strong roots, produce energy and support healthy growth and high crop yields.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/accordion {\"uniqueId\":\"xy43hs\"} -->\n<!-- wp:ncst\/accordion-item {\"heading\":\"Understanding Phosphorous: From Rocks to Plant Nutrition\",\"parentUniqueId\":\"xy43hs\",\"uniqueId\":\"oz7o3u\"} -->\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Elemental phosphorus<\/strong>: Pure phosphorus in its basic form; very reactive and not found freely in nature. Used to make industrial chemicals and processed into other phosphorus compounds.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Phosphate rock<\/strong>: A natural rock mined from the earth that contains phosphorus. Used as the main raw material to produce phosphate fertilizers.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Inorganic phosphate<\/strong>: A form of phosphorus in fertilizers that plants can use directly. Used in commercial fertilizers like diammonium phosphate to help crops grow.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Organic phosphorus<\/strong>: Phosphorus found in plants and animals that becomes available in soil as they break down. Helps recycle nutrients in natural and agricultural ecosystems. <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Dissolved phosphate<\/strong>: Phosphorus mixed in water that plants can easily take up through their roots. Supports immediate plant nutrition in soils and waterways.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/accordion-item -->\n<!-- \/wp:ncst\/accordion -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Beyond agriculture, phosphorus is also used in a wide range of industrial applications, including food additives, detergents and energy technologies such as lithium iron phosphate batteries used in electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Any disruption in phosphorus supply can ripple through global agriculture and industry, affecting food production and critical technologies like energy storage while exposing countries to economic and security risks.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6]} -->\n<h2 id=\"phosphorous-supply-chain\"><strong>How the Phosphorous Supply Chain Works \u2014 and Why It\u2019s Fragile<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Global phosphate rock production is highly concentrated, with a small number of countries dominating supply, most notably Morocco and China. Other key producers, including the U.S. and Russia, play important but comparatively smaller roles in global supply.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This concentration, combined with the fact that phosphate rock is a nonrenewable resource, makes the phosphorus supply chain inherently fragile. Agricultural and industrial systems worldwide depend on stable access to a finite resource controlled by a limited number of suppliers, according to Baker.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Economic and political shocks such as trade restrictions, conflict and policy changes can reverberate through global phosphorus markets. For example, China has periodically limited phosphate exports, tightening supply and driving price volatility.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cBecause there are relatively few major suppliers of phosphate rock globally, trade-related restrictions on exports from these major suppliers can have a discernible impact on markets, availability and domestic supply chain risks,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":42281,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1.png\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/idaho-phosphate-rock-mine-processing-facility-aerial-Stock-1356652398-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Aerial view of an industrial site with factories, smokestacks, raw material mounds, and green fields in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-42281\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An aerial view of a phosphate mine processing facility in southeastern Idaho. Photo by Brian Brown\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When major suppliers restrict exports of phosphate products, global buyers must compete for a smaller supply, driving up prices. These higher costs raise input expenses across agriculture and industry and can ultimately contribute to higher consumer prices.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Similar pressures can emerge when environmental shocks such as hurricanes or floods disrupt mining operations, processing facilities or transportation networks, temporarily reducing the flow of phosphorus products to global markets and intensifying competition among buyers.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Generally, industrial manufacturing, storage and distribution systems are most exposed to localized disruptions such as natural disasters, while global markets and resource supply are more vulnerable to external geopolitical, market or trade shocks.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6]} -->\n<h2 id=\"resilient-phosphorus-supply\"><strong>What a More Resilient Phosphorus Supply Looks Like<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Regions such as the European Union, Southeast Asia and Latin America import significant volumes of phosphate products due to limited reserves and processing capacity, relying on external suppliers for both industrial-grade phosphates and fertilizer inputs.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Even the U.S., which sources most of its phosphate rock from domestic mining operations in Central Florida, North Carolina and Idaho, imports some phosphorus products, though it\u2019s relatively resilient to global supply disruptions compared to other regions.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This resilience is supported by domestic reserves and production capacity and, in some regions, high historical application rates of fertilizer and bioavailable phosphorus in soils that can buffer short-term reductions in fertilizer usage without immediate impacts on crop yields.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Baker said U.S. resilience could weaken over the long-term as phosphate reserves are depleted at relatively high rates. The U.S. holds an estimated 1 billion metric tons of phosphate reserves and produced about 21 million to 22 million metric tons between 2021 and 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:ncst\/pullquote {\"value\":\"\\u0022Improving resilience will require a combination of supply and demand side actions.\\u0022\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The U.S. has taken action to address growing concerns about supply chain vulnerability. That includes adding phosphate rock to the Critical Minerals Lists in 2025 and then invoking the Defense Production Act in 2026 to secure supplies of elemental phosphorus.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Both actions direct federal support toward phosphorus production and contracts, signaling government backing that may reduce uncertainty for investors and encourage growth in domestic phosphate processing capacity.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Ultimately, Baker said the actions may strengthen domestic supply chains by increasing mining and processing capacity but will not address long-term vulnerabilities and must be paired with efforts to improve efficiency, recycling and demand-side management.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cImproving resilience will require a combination of supply and demand side actions,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6]} -->\n<h2 id=\"phosphate-mining-environmental-effects\"><strong>How Phosphate Mining Affects the Environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As the U.S. seeks to expand its domestic phosphorus supply, Baker said fast-tracked approvals and weakened oversight for new or expanded mining projects could increase the potential for environmental damage.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Phosphate mining and fertilizer production can cause significant land disturbance and generate waste containing heavy metals and radioactive elements that pose environmental risks if not properly managed.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Runoff and improper waste handling can contaminate water bodies with excess nutrients, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion that harm aquatic ecosystems.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":42289,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1.png\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/harmful-agal-bloom-iStock-2234918599-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Green algae covering the surface of a pond with reeds growing on the right side.\" class=\"wp-image-42289\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Harmful algal blooms occur when excess nutrients \u2014 often phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilizer runoff and industrial sources \u2014 fuel rapid algae growth in lakes and waterways, depleting oxygen and threatening aquatic life and water quality. Photo by Sergei Dubrovskii\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Baker cited the wastewater spill in Piney Point, Florida, as an example of the kind of damage that can occur in such incidents. In March 2021, a breached reservoir at a former phosphate plant released more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into Tampa Bay, triggering algal blooms and causing widespread fish kills and other marine life die-offs.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cCareful planning, especially around industrial waste management, and environmental regulation can protect against events like this,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Baker added that the environmental impacts of expanding domestic phosphate production are more complex than they may appear, noting that risks are more likely to be concentrated in mining and processing rather than downstream use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>He also suggested that increased domestic production coupled with reduced imports could raise costs for farmers and other consumers by limiting access to lower-cost global supply, potentially lowering overall phosphorus use and reducing runoff into surface water systems.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"levelOptions\":[2,3,4,5,6]} -->\n<h2 id=\"phosphorus-sustainability\">How to Improve Phosphorus Sustainability<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/faculty.cnr.ncsu.edu\/justinbaker\/2026\/03\/28\/could-critical-mineral-designation-for-phosphate-rock-ease-market-tension-and-support-sustainable-phosphorus-solutions\/\">blog post<\/a>, Baker and other members of his Resource Economics and Sustainability Lab said the U.S. decision to designate phosphate rock as a critical mineral could help enable policies that support more sustainable phosphorus use.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>On the supply side, the designation could encourage industry to recover and reuse phosphorus from sources such as wastewater, human waste, surface water and industrial byproducts from mining and fertilizer production, expanding alternative supplies of fertilizer inputs.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Meanwhile, on the demand side, incentives could encourage farmers and other users to rely more on alternative sources such as organic fertilizers and nutrients already present in soils, while supporting shifts to less phosphorus-intensive crops and promoting the innovation of alternative fertilizers and technologies that improve phosphorus-use efficiency.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Together, these efforts could reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, make better use of recycled nutrients and ease pressure on supply chains by lowering demand for new fertilizer inputs and increasing reuse of phosphorus from waste and industry.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":42279,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"media\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1.png\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/tractor-fertilizer-iStock-181893310-1500x844-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Close-up of a spreader dispersing granules on a field under bright sunlight.\" class=\"wp-image-42279\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A tractor spreads fertilizer across a field. Farmers commonly use phosphorus-rich fertilizers derived from phosphate rock to replenish soil nutrients and support healthy crop growth. Photo by AleksandarDickov\/iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Baker and his colleagues in the STEPS Center are increasingly weighing long-term phosphate mining expansion against strategies focused on recycling phosphorus and using \u201clegacy phosphorus\u201d already stored in agricultural soils.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One challenge with legacy phosphorus is that \u201cit requires a behavioral switch for some farmers to take advantage of this free resource, even with freely available expert guidance on application rates and soil nutrient content,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As a result, some farmers may overapply fertilizer when they are uncertain about how much phosphorus is already in their soils, building up reserves until they are more confident in managing these \u201clegacy\u201d nutrients and can use them to reduce input costs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Baker concluded that new technologies such as soil sensors and enhanced efficiency fertilizers are important tools in improving how farmers measure and apply phosphorus, but that the greater challenge may be behavioral and institutional.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cYou need buy-in from farmers and appropriately designed policy incentives to support innovation and get new technologies to scale,\u201d Baker said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supply chain risks and environmental pressures are raising concerns about the long-term availability and sustainability of phosphorus-related resources, prompting world governments to prioritize domestic production to strengthen national security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":171,"featured_media":42280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"caption\":\"Granules of diammonium phosphate, or DAP, fertilizer fill a bag. DAP is the world\u2019s most widely used phosphorus fertilizer, helping farmers maintain soil fertility and support crop production. Photo by iamporpla\/iStock\",\"displayCategoryID\":460,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"subtitle\":\"Geopolitical, economic and environmental disruptions are raising new concerns about the long-term availability and stability of phosphorus.\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111,1,102,3,460],"tags":[261,362,256],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-42272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fer-research","category-hidden-news","category-hidden-newswire","category-research-innovation","category-thought-leadership","tag-fer-research","tag-forestry-and-environmental-resources","tag-natural-resources-economics-and-policy"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":460,"name":"Thought Leadership","slug":"thought-leadership","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":460,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Our more than 200 faculty members are experts in their fields, conducting cutting-edge research to solve urgent challenges at the intersection of the environment, economy and society. Here you will find content highlighting their expertise on a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary issues ranging from the significant rise in forest fires, deforestation and flooding to the need for accelerated innovation to sustainably engineer bio-based materials.","parent":0,"count":64,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/171"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42272"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42299,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42272\/revisions\/42299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42272"},{"taxonomy":"_ncst_magazine_issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_ncst_magazine_issue?post=42272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}