Mohamed Hijri: A simple solution to the coming phosphorus crisis
Mohamed Hijri: 解決磷危機的簡單方法
Mohamed Hijri studies arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), seeking to understand the structure, evolution and reproduction of these organisms, which form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. Full bio
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by asking you a question:
with the blue algae problem?
it's a serious issue.
blue algae-contaminated water,
I won't be talking about blue algae.
I'll be talking about the main cause
the phosphorus crisis.
about the phosphorus crisis today?
做為今天的演講議題呢?
that nobody else is talking about it.
I hope that the general public
and this issue.
有更多的認識和警覺
in this situation with blue algae?
that it comes from how we farm.
是我們的農業耕作方式造成的
chemical fertilizers.
in agriculture?
and to produce a better yield.
that is without precedent.
a crash course in plant biology.
讓我簡短介紹一下作物生物學的基本知識
in order to grow?
needs light, it needs CO2,
需要光和二氧化碳來生長
it needs nutrients,
are essential chemical elements:
許多是重要的化學元素
these resources.
that is linked to phosphorus.
the most problematic chemical element.
you will have seen
and where we are today.
和我們今天面臨什麼樣的狀況
This is a very important point.
what the phosphorus issue is.
in several molecules,
is phosphorus-based --
這個成份叫做磷脂
These are called phospholipids.
ATP, is phosphorus-based.
都以磷為基本元素
phosphorus is a key component of DNA,
and which is shown in this image.
我們在這個圖中能看到
phosphorus is a key player.
磷是當中的關鍵成份
我們可以在從哪裡獲得磷?
from the soil, through water.
from the things we eat:
eat better than others.
which speaks for itself,
as intensive agriculture.
on the use of chemical fertilizers.
we would not manage to produce enough
7 billion of us on Earth.
there will be 9 billion of us.
人類人口會增加到九十億人
Do we have enough phosphorus
我們有足夠的磷嗎?
where do we find our phosphorus?
讓我們來看看,我們能從哪裡獲得磷?
100 percent of a given dose of phosphorus.
Eighty-five percent is lost.
其實85%會流失
ending its journey in the lakes,
最後順著雨水流入湖中
which leads to the blue algae problem.
最後導致藍藻問題
something that is illogical.
這過程中有什麼不符邏輯
but only 15 percent goes to the plant.
但作物只吸收了15%
is that it is very expensive.
而更糟的是,這樣不但浪費,還很花錢
out the window,
that's what is happening here.
這就是我們使用磷的情況
depends on phosphorus.
to the plant, all the rest is lost,
其他的都浪費掉
this phosphorus from?
of an extraordinary article
about the phosphorus crisis.
which is becoming increasingly scarce,
正變得越來越稀少
Politicians and scientists are in agreement
政治家和科學家都同意
for a phosphorus crisis.
is an open-pit mine in the U.S.,
美國的一處露天壙坑
of the dimensions of this mine,
the little crane you can see,
是從礦脈開採獲得的
we talk about global warming,
我們也談論全球暖化的問題
the phosphorus crisis.
oil is something we can replace.
我們可以找到石油的替代能源
but phosphorus is an essential element,
但磷這個必要的元素
and we can’t replace it.
我們是找不到替代品的
of the world's phosphorus reserves?
of where we are today.
大概看出來我們目前的情況
for phosphorus reserves.
it will all be gone.
I’ll be retired by then.
那時候我應該就退休了
for a major crisis,
of this problem.
We are faced with a paradox.
這是個矛盾的兩難題
will be available.
the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization,
in 2050 than we do today.
會變成現在的兩倍
but we'll need to produce more food.
但卻需要生產更多的食物
or an alternative
phosphorus use?
that has existed for a very long time,
其實是個存在很久的方法
that is very mysterious,
and yet also extremely complex.
for over 16 years now.
for my laboratory research.
應用在我的實驗室研究上
with the roots.
and mutually beneficial association
of a mycorrhiza.
all by itself.
which surrounds it.
the root is ineffective.
in its search for phosphorus.
microscopic mushroom.
to seek out phosphorus.
the root’s one-millimeter scope
for 450 million years.
has evolved and adapted to seek out
and to put it to use,
並能吸收它為己用
in the real world, is a carrot root,
是現實世界的情況,這是蘿蔔的根
with its very fine filaments.
we can see that this mushroom
我們可以看到這些微蕈
between the root's cells,
a typical arbuscular structure,
the exchange interface
that mutual exchanges will occur.
它們會建立起互利合作關係
I’m going to reduce it to 25 percent.
現在我將劑量減為25%
most will benefit the plant,
will remain in the soil.
we don't even need to add phosphorus.
我們甚至不需要再施化肥
I showed you earlier,
it is in insoluble form.
但這些磷是不可溶性的
soluble forms.
of dissolving this insoluble form
for the plant to use.
here is a picture that speaks for itself.
in a field of sorghum.
種植的作物是高梁
produced using conventional agriculture,
the dose was reduced to 50 percent,
we achieved a better yield.
that this method works.
Mexico and India,
and in several other cases,
在其他案例裡,
any phosphorus at all,
and drawing it from the soil.
in Canada.
but not in the other.
and yellow a weaker yield.
黃色部分代表較低的產量
I have invented nothing.
我沒有發明任何新的生物科技
for 450 million years,
modern-day plant species to diversify.
that is still undergoing lab tests.
and commercialized worldwide.
that people are not aware of it.
are still not aware of this problem.
will alleviate some of the pressure
on the world's phosphorus reserves.
I am a scientist and a dreamer.
what my retirement dream is,
that phosphorus peak,
"Made with mycorrhiza,"
會被我們大量使用:「真蕈種植」
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Mohamed Hijri - BiologistMohamed Hijri studies arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), seeking to understand the structure, evolution and reproduction of these organisms, which form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots.
Why you should listen
Mohamed Hijri is a professor of biology and a researcher at the plant biology research institute (l'Institut de recherche en biologie végétale) at the Université de Montréal. His work focuses on the most common and widespread symbiotic relationship on earth -- between plant roots and a type of fungi found in the soil called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These fungi improve plant growth by increasing roots' ability to absorb phosphorus, while also boosting resistance to pathogens.
As Hijri points out in his talk, the study of AMF and a deeper understanding of them could have big implications for agriculture and could help divert us from an impending crisis -- that we are quickly running out of phosphorus.
Mohamed Hijri | Speaker | TED.com