News

Phosphate earns “critical mineral” status. Phosphate has officially been added to the U.S. Critical Minerals List. It’s official: the U.S. Department of the Interior has added phosphate to the nation’s Critical Minerals List — a major step forward for America’s food security and resource independence.

What if phosphate could do more than help farmers feed America? History tells us that the things we overlook often hide America’s greatest innovations.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to modern life. Found in the screens we tap, the cars we drive, the wind turbines that generate clean power, and the defense systems that protect the country. It’s easy to overlook just how much we rely on them.

Out of 186 countries, only one — Guyana — is fully self-sufficient in food production. The United States ranks among the top 15, with a food self-sufficiency score of 78, but we still import roughly 20% of what we eat. A new global study, featured in Science Focus, highlights how rare true food independence is — and why it’s a growing concern.

A Smarter Approach to Phosphate Land Use—aims to update legal barriers and allow for responsible reuse of previously operational phosphate lands, unlocking them not just for conservation and recreation, but also for economic growth in Florida’s rural heartland.