What are the main uses of phosphate rock mined in the United States?

Approximately 95 percent of the phosphate rock mined in the United States is utilized for the production of fertilizer or animal food supplements.1

The primary method for processing this rock involves acidulation with sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to create water-soluble calcium hydrogen phosphates. While these applications are essential for agriculture, they raise significant ethical and environmental concerns. The inefficient management of phosphorus throughout the supply chain leads to substantial waste, which often enters waterways and triggers harmful algal blooms. Furthermore, because phosphate rock is a nonrenewable resource, the current rate of consumption poses a long-term threat to the sustainability of global phosphorus supplies.1