Fertilising maximises food production and food is crucial to human survival. As nutrients are constantly extracted by farming every year we need to put these back.
He spoke in depth about phosphate fertilisers. Phosphate rock is imported from the West Sahara and made water soluble through acidulation. Phosphate rock is reacted with a sulphuric acid. You can see both the phosphate rock and silos of sulphuric acid stored at Balance.
Hanno made me think more about the importance of fertilising (my horse is kept on a 10 acre block and we haven't fertilised for years) and also about teaching the nitrogen cycle more at school. I am definitely more familiar and comfortable with the water cycle perhaps this can be one of my next challenges.
NoS
Understanding - Science is a way of explaining the world and science knowledge changes over time (Hanno used lots of examples from history and the in particular the development of knowledge from caveman times to now)
Participating and Contributing
Explore various aspects of an issue and make decisions about possible actions (world population and food as a resource, minimising waste at Balance factory)
Science Capabilities
Engage with science (using fertiliser is an example of science in a real life context, also engaging with Hanno, a local scientist working in the fertiliser industry)
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