56 Various options for reducing losses and further recycling have been reviewed in the previous sections. The effective options for the short term are: 1. The most significant reduction in phosphate consumption and subsequent reduction of losses can and will be achieved in the Dutch agricultural sector, which is responsible for the bulk of the net Dutch phosphate consumption and around 40% of the total phosphate losses. Improving the efficiency of nutrient use is essential. Reducing the agricultural consumption of phosphate is already enforced through the Fertilisers Act 2006, which has had a major effect. Compared with 2005, the newly implemented phosphate standards will lead to a reduction in phosphate use from manures and fertilisers of 30-40% (i.e. 71-95 Gg P2O5). This reduction will depend on the decrease of the phosphate status of the soil caused by the reduction of phosphate use. Soils differ in their phosphate buffering capacity. It is, at present, not possible to give an estimate of the effect of the buffering capacity of Dutch soil on the reduction of phosphate from fertilisers and manure. 2. In addition, reducing the phosphate content of animal feed and improving its availability (e.g. using biorefinery), the production of fertiliser from manure and an increased export of manure will contribute to a more sustainable and balanced use of phosphate and to an increase in phosphate use efficiency. A rough estimate is 20 – 30 Gg P2O5. 3. Thirdly, a reduction in phosphate loss can be achieved by using an alternative approach to phosphate removal from urban and industrial waste water, e.g. by using aluminium salts. Phosphate precipitated in the sewage sludge can then be used as raw phosphate ore for the production of fertiliser. It is estimated that 18 Gg P2O5 can be recycled in this way. 4. Another measure to further reduce agricultural consumption is the in-row placement of phosphate fertilisers. It is estimated that 10 Gg P2O5 of fertiliser phosphorus can be used more efficiently. The various measures to reduce losses and for phosphate recycling would result in a total annual saving of between 119 and 153 Gg P2O5. This shows that a substantial reduction can be achieved without rigorous changes in policy and legislation and the reuse of available phosphate in the Netherlands. Pagina 65

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