Phosphate Research and Sustainable Development Brian K. Birky, Ph.D.

Research Director Public and Environmental Health Florida Institute of Phosphate Research

The Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR)

• An Independent State Research Agency • Governed By a Board of Directors Appointed by the Governor • Funded by the Severance Tax on Phosphate Rock

Global Industry • Applied research • Based in Florida • Useful worldwide

FIPR’s Revenue • Severance Tax – Subject to market conditions – Subject to Legislative actions • Need to Diversify – Patents – Intellectual Property

FIPR’s Mission • Environment and Public Health Research – Conduct or sponsor research about the safety and health of employees, contractors, neighboring communities and the public, and the surrounding environment • Technology Research – Maximize efficient utilization of resources while minimizing environmental impacts • Education and Public Information

Sustainable Development • Meet current needs without undermining future generations’ ability to meet theirs • Principles – Environmental – Social – Economic

How is it done?

• How does FIPR follow the sustainable development model?

• How does FIPR implement a multiple stakeholder approach?

Environmental Principle • Environmental stewardship – New technologies must be beneficial to the environment or neutral • Pollution prevention – Source-control technology, technical innovation • Resource stewardship – Maximize mining and processing efficiency including water, energy and raw materials, minimize losses

Social Principle • Safety and human health – Protect the health and safety of employees, contractors, and community • Stakeholder engagement and transparency – Develop partnerships and seek input from key stakeholders and provide them with relevant information in a timely and open manner • Communities

Multiple Stakeholder Representation • FIPR’s Board of Directors – Two from the phosphate industry – One representing environmental concerns (currently from the Audubon Society) – One representing regulatory concerns (usually from the DEP) – One from the state university system (usually a dean or department chair)

Economic Principle • Shareholder return • Economic contribution

Economics in Research • Is new technology cost-effective?

– Retro-fitting an existing plant – Building a new plant • Has the PI demonstrated a benefit?

– Scientists and engineers need business training

Serendipity or Common Sense?

• FIPR was almost certainly not conceived with ‘sustainable development’ in mind a quarter century ago • The fact that the principles were incorporated in FIPR’s design validates the sustainable development concept

In Conclusion • Almost all of the sustainable development bullets in today’s presentation were taken from the Rio Tinto Borax program and they fit FIPR perfectly