Driving Innovation in Phosphorus Sustainability Across South Florida

On the southern edge of Lake Okeechobee, water moves slowly through marshes and engineered wetlands on its way to the Everglades. Along the way, one challenge remains constant, keeping phosphorus where it belongs. Even small amounts can disrupt ecosystems. Excess phosphorus fuels algal blooms and affects native plant communities. Advancing phosphorus sustainability is key to protecting these systems, but it requires more than regulation or research. It requires collaboration focused on innovation and real-world testing.

Planning and Partnerships

Bringing science and stakeholders together was the focus of the recent Treatment Technologies for Phosphorus Mitigation (T2PM) workshop. Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) organized the event with colleagues from Arizona State University and North Carolina State University. More than 50 researchers, water managers, regulators, industry leaders, and technology developers attended the two-day workshop. Together, they considered technologies such as engineered sorbents, ion-exchange systems, and hybrid treatment approaches. These tools can complement existing infrastructure and improve water quality outcomes.

“Phosphorus management is no longer just about reducing inputs. It has shifted to developing smarter, more adaptive systems that can capture and reuse nutrients,” said Jango Bhadha, an associate professor in the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences. “Workshops like this help us connect the science to real-world application.”

The National Science Foundation supported the workshop through a Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT) planning grant. Additional support came from the NSF Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center and partner institutions.

Testing Solutions in the Field

South Florida serves as an important testing ground. Over the past three decades, large-scale Stormwater Treatment Areas have removed more than 4,700 tons of phosphorus from runoff. While that progress is significant, stricter water quality standards mean new tools are needed. The challenge is removing low concentrations of phosphorus across large volumes of water.

A group of people sit in an airboat before starting a tour of the Taylor Creek STA as part of a phosphorus sustainability workshop. — Getting ready to tour the Taylor Creek STA by airboat. (Photo by Jango Bhadha)

“That’s where innovation and collaboration become essential,” Bhadha said.

The workshop featured a field tour of the Taylor Creek Stormwater Treatment Area near Lake Okeechobee on the first day. Participants saw how treatment wetlands operate at the landscape scale. They observed water control structures, vegetation management, and monitoring systems. The visit added context to discussions about scalability, cost, and environmental trade-offs.

“Seeing these systems in the field changes how you think about solutions,” Bhadha said. “It grounds the conversation in reality and helps identify what’s truly feasible.”

From Ideas to Implementation

The second day focused on roundtable discussions. Participants worked together to map technology readiness and identify barriers to implementation. They also discussed priorities for future research and deployment. Conversations covered cost, regulatory requirements, infrastructure needs and opportunities for pilot projects.

Evaluating progress and measuring success rounded out the discussions. Participants agreed that assessments should consider short-term regulatory compliance as well as long-term ecosystem recovery.

“We need to think beyond quick fixes,” Bhadha said. “Success means sustained water quality improvements and resilient ecosystems over time.”

Workshop participants sit at tables discussing strategies for phosphorus sustainability in the Everglades. — Roundtable discussions on Day 2 of the workshop. (Photos by Maria Medina)

Building Momentum for Phosphorus Sustainability

The workshop is part of a broader effort to advance phosphorus sustainability solutions that are effective, scalable, and socially responsible. Outcomes from the event will help guide future research and collaboration, identify priority technologies for field testing, support funding proposals and demonstration projects, and strengthen a growing community focused on phosphorus sustainability.

“Solving complex environmental challenges like phosphorus management requires shared knowledge and coordinated action,” Bhadha said. “This workshop is one step toward building that collaborative framework to balance agricultural productivity with environmental protection.”

The National Science Foundation – Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT) Phase 1 Planning Grant No. 2427542 supported this project.

Feature image of group photo at the Taylor Creek STA from Jango Bhadha, enhanced with Adobe Photoshop AI.