Authorities Say: Growth Of Phosphate And Potash For Fertilizer Strains Sulfur Supplies

His face wreathed in smiles, J. Richard Lucas, Chairman of the Keynote Session, conceded that "the papers appeared to have been of some interest." This was a modest description of the opening day of technical sessions at the SME Fall Meeting and Exhibition, October 13 to 15, in Tampa, Fla. The auditorium had capacity for 800 spectators and there was hardly a vacant seat visible. The topic, Resource Development of the Fertilizer Minerals, was covered in four authoritative papers. H. S. Ten Eyck set the stage. Resources are always viewed in relation to future requirements, and these depend largely on population. If the population trend continues, the world's 3.3 billion people will increase to 6.7 billion people by the year 2000. About 70% of this increased population will be in developing areas which are not capable of supplying sufficient food and fiber for their needs. Fertilizer is a means of bridging the crop shortage. Projections of fertilizer requirements by 1970 are from 53 million to 67.5 million long tons of plant nutrient which compares with 1964 consumption of 37.7 million tons. Looking ahead to 1980, the growth continues with an estimated demand of 80 million to 113 million tons combined of N P and K.