What is the Phosphorus import substitution potential of Bio-Phosphate?

According to the EFPRA (European Fat Processor and Renderers Association) 328 million pigs, sheep, goats, beef and dairy cattle are slaughtered in the EU each year together with 6 billion poultries. 34% (pig) -42% (cattle, beef) of the animal is rendered. According to Eurostat 45.8 million tons live weight animals slaughtered in the EU in 2015 (Eurostat 2016). The European rendering industry (35 EFPRA members, 26 EU countries) processed more than 17 million raw materials in 2014 (EFPRA, 2015), from which the category 3 processed products are 12 million t/y. EFPRA members processing the majority of the total animal by-products in the EU and additionally significant amount of material streams produced by non-member organizations. The skeletal system can be up to 20 percent of the carcass weight, which mean that over 4 million tons of animal bone biomass produced in the EU annually. After rendering industrial processing at 133°C 20 min 3 bars the different types of rending product outputs are 2.7 million t/y animal fat, 3.9 million t/y animal proteins, 825,000 t/y fertilizer and other products, liquid fuel, oleochemicals and animal bone products.

The Eurostat is indicating that the estimated consumption of manufactured Phosphorus fertilisers in EU 27 (2014) was 1.11 million tons based on data provided by Fertiliser Europe. This is equivalent with 2,55 million to mineral P fertiliser expressed in P2O5. Around 90% of the phosphate rock used to produce fertilisers is imported.

Significant part substitution of phosphate import by recovered Phosphorus would be important goal for the European agriculture already in short term. The imported mineral Phosphorus agri substitution potential by bio ABC in European dimension is 3% (75,000 t/y P2O5) in short term <2025 and up to 20% in long term >2030.