BIO-CHEMICAL FLOWS
BIO-CHEMICAL FLOWS
Modern agricultural and industrial practices have significantly altered the bio-chemical cycles of the planet, as nitrogen and phosphorus, essential elements for plant growth and fertilizer production, are now abundant. Much of these fertilizers end up in aquatic systems, promoting the growth of algae and causing a depletion of oxygen, leading to changes in the productivity of these ecosystems. When this process of eutrophication exceeds ecological limits, it results in the formation of coastal dead zones, which are areas of low oxygen and unsuitable for marine life.
CONCEPT
The object that displays the state of bio-chemical flows incorporates the main cause for the emissions as well as the systems that are primarily damaged. A plate was chosen, as modern food production strongly relies on the use of chemical fertilizers and the shape resembles a lake, one of the ecosystems mostly affected.
This boundary has two bio-physical control variables (nitrogen and phosphorus cycles), which both displace the body of the plate in different ways. Higher values result in a more unevenly shaped object, decreasing its functionality as a tool for serving food.
CONCEPT
The object that displays the state of bio-chemical flows incorporates the main cause for the emissions as well as the systems that are primarily damaged. A plate was chosen, as modern food production strongly relies on the use of chemical fertilizers and the shape resembles a lake, one of the ecosystems mostly affected.
This boundary has two bio-physical control variables (nitrogen and phosphorus cycles), which both displace the body of the plate in different ways. Higher values result in a more unevenly shaped object, decreasing its functionality as a tool for serving food.
parameters used
unit
phosphorus
kg P per year – normalized to boundary
nitrogen
kg N per year – normalized to boundary
population
in million
GDP
per capita in million $
social-ratio
ratio of social goals achieved
OVERVIEW
Canada
2028
phosphorus
10,45
nitrogen
10,24
population
40,2
GDP
49.819
social-ratio
0,82
UK
1997
phosphorus
1,48
nitrogen
2,32
population
70,0
GDP
47.974
social-ratio
0,91
Togo
2042
phosphorus
0,19
nitrogen
0,95
population
13,3
GDP
976
social-ratio
0,33
Brazil
2015
phosphorus
8,84
nitrogen
6,42
population
204,4
GDP
8.813
social-ratio
0,54
Namibia
2022
phosphorus
0,18
nitrogen
0,78
population
2,6
GDP
4.213
social-ratio
0,12
Austria
2035
phosphorus
2,68
nitrogen
4,26
population
9,2
GDP
68.119
social-ratio
1
Jamaica
2017
phosphorus
0,55
nitrogen
0,74
population
2,9
GDP
5.070
social-ratio
0,2
Ireland
2030
phosphorus
1,33
nitrogen
2,62
population
5,2
GDP
103.881
social-ratio
0,82
Iraq
2050
phosphorus
1,93
nitrogen
1,65
population
70,9
GDP
5.451
social-ratio
0,17
France
2042
phosphorus
3,60
nitrogen
5,71
population
67,6
GDP
66.945
social-ratio
0,73
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