</ref> Individual countrycountries's supplies vary widely; without a recycling initiative America's supply<ref>http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/phosphate_rock/phospmcs06.pdf</ref> is estimated around 30 years.<ref>http://www.ecosanres.org/PDF%20files/Fact_sheets/ESR4lowres.pdf</ref> Phosphorus supplies affect agricultural output which in turn limits alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. Its increasing price and scarcity (global price of rock phosphate rose 8-fold in the 2 years to mid 2008) could change global agricultural patterns. Lands, perceived as marginal because of remoteness, but with very high phosphorus content, such as the [[Gran Chaco]]<ref>{{cite news | title = A postcard from the central Chaco | author = Don Nicol | accessdate = 2009-01-23
| url = http://www.breedleader.com.au/images/chaco%20postcard%20.pdf | quote = alluvial sandy soils have phosphorus levels of up to 200-300 ppm}}</ref> may get more agricultural development, while other farming areas, where nutrients are a constraint, may drop below the line of profitability.
