HC Deb 22 February 1973 vol 851 cc152-3W
54. Mr. David Price

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of a possible world shortage of rock phosphates towards the end of the current century, what research he is sponsoring into the selective breeding of those strains of phytoplankton which have the highest abilities to concentrate phosphorus and the attendant problems of growing and harvesting such strains of phytoplankton in British coastal waters.

Mrs. Fenner

None. I have no evidence that there is likely to be a world shortage of rock phosphates, and I am advised that breeding of phytoplankton would not in any event be the best means of recovering phosphates from the sea.

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