Register for the 1st Global TraPs World Conference in Beijing June 18-20 now

You are invited to attend the Global TraPs 1st World Conference, which will be held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China June 18-20, 2013.

Day one of the conference will be dedicated to Global TraPs Mutual Learning and Dialogue Sessions with days two and three being a joint conference with the United Nations Environment Program’s –Global Partnership for Nutrient Management (UNEP-GPNM).

The 1^st Global TraPs World Conference opens a new stage of a transdisciplinary discourse on sustainable phosphorus management. The program for the June 18 with more than ten Mutual Learning Sessions and Dialogue Sessions got just finshed. Please look at the program and the registration form.

Take a look at the program day 1 of the conference and register now.
Take a look at the program day 2 and 3.

For information about stipends click here.

Look at the Orgchart of Global TraPs (PDF)

Participate in the preparation of MLS & DS of the Beijing Conference

All Mutual Learning Sessions (MLS) and DS (DS) of Day will be prepared by the participants who have registered for participating in one of MLS or DS by a booklet.

If you are not involved and you want to participate, please look at the specific web-site of your MLS or DS. You may find the person who is coordinating the writing of the booklet in the very first page.

The abstracts (public) and the booklet (no-public yet) is work in progress. Please note that the work on the booklet has to follow the rules of a transdisciplinary discourse. 

The Phosphorus Challenge: Managing a Resource With Complex Patterns

In recent years issues related to phosphorus (P) management and sustainability are becoming a concern and have repeatedly generated serious discussions and debate among different stakeholders. Two major issues that have particularly received increased attention are:

1. the finite nature of phosphate resources vis-à-vis their essentiality in all biological systems and food and fiber production and
2. the increasing water contamination caused by excessive P use and/or poor management practices. Off-site P losses cause negative environmental impacts by triggering surface water runoff and soil erosion.

While Global TraPs (Transdisciplinary Processes for Sustainable Phosphorus Management; 2010–2015) focuses on these two issues, it has additional, important emphases:

Focusing on sustainability of future P use, Global TraPs will bring together researchers from various disciplines with an interest in phosphorus („Science“) and producers and users of P, along with those facilitating their efforts, such as extension and development organizations („Practice“) to work in „nodes“ organized around the global P supply chain (i.e. from exploration of P resources to its utilization and recycling) to answer the project guiding question:

• Phosphorus has a tremendous positive impact on food and fiber production (essential component of food security and human health), but much can be done to improve this impact. Sustainability of P resources has become a serious, worldwide concern and therefore needs attention.
• A great deal of knowledge exists on ways to manage P without causing adverse effects to the environment. However, in many places, P management leaves a great deal to be desired.
• Given the central role of P in food security and human well-being, and the low use of P among some smallholder farmers, access to P by the resource –poor producers has to be improved.

„What new knowledge, technologies and policy options are needed to ensure that future phosphorus use is sustainable, improves food security and environmental quality and provides benefits for the poor?”

Message from the Project leaders »»