The media has focussed on peak oil, as have the messages of many environmental groups. But other minerals will peak, and are already peaking. One of the most critical ones is phosphorous, which is required in tiny quantities in every living cell.

Phosphate mining commenced in the 18th century and increased the efficiency of agriculture - it was a significant facilitating factor in explosion of human population. We have taken most of the easy phosphorous - we finished stripping Nauru five years ago, leaving it a wasteland. » Read more