Phosphorus metabolism of the food system in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area urban agglomeration

Phosphorus metabolism of the food system in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area urban agglomeration

IntroductionPhosphorus (P) is a vital nutrient for food production, yet a significant pollutant when mismanaged.MethodsThis study analyzes the phosphorus flow of the food system in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in 2020, using a Substance Flow Analysis framework. The research e...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yang Lu, Wei Huang, Shenghui Cui, Jiexin Deng, Yin Zhang, Yunfeng Huang, Bing Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
phosphorus metabolism
food system
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
urban agglomeration
substance flow analysis
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1613137/full
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Summary:IntroductionPhosphorus (P) is a vital nutrient for food production, yet a significant pollutant when mismanaged.MethodsThis study analyzes the phosphorus flow of the food system in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in 2020, using a Substance Flow Analysis framework. The research examines natural and anthropogenic inputs, outputs and accumulation of phosphorus.ResultsResults reveal that the GBA is heavily dependent on external phosphorus inputs, with a total input of 187.69 Gg. The two largest sources of phosphorus inputs are aquaculture (36%) and food consumption (33%). The phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) in crop production, animal husbandry, and aquaculture were approximately 48.8, 32.37, and 10.01%, respectively. However, only 7.89% of phosphorus is recycled, while substantial losses (76% to soil and 24% to water bodies) exacerbate environmental pressures. Spatial analysis highlights distinct patterns between production-oriented cities (e.g., Jiangmen and Zhaoqing) and consumption-oriented cities (e.g., Shenzhen and Hong Kong).DiscussionPolicy recommendations include enhancing aquaculture management, improving phosphorus recycling technologies, and fostering intercity collaboration to create a sustainable phosphorus management framework. These findings provide critical insights for addressing phosphorus-related challenges in urban agglomerations.
ISSN:2571-581X

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