Global economic growth has given rise to accelerated rates of water use, which, coupled with population growth, demand a globally integrated, sustainable and cost-effective approach to water resource management.

At Mosaic, we understand the risks and opportunities that water scarcity represents for our operations and customers and are planning accordingly. Future changes in rainfall patterns, storm intensities and temperature levels will likely vary by geographic region, with some parts of the world becoming wetter, while other parts become dryer. These fluctuations could make growing crops using traditional methods less productive in some regions and more productive in others. We believe our balanced approach to soil fertility will be a strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of drought, floods, storms and plant disease.

In addition, approximately 40 percent of Mosaic's total operations are located in regions subject to water-related risks. For example, Mosaic's Potash facility in New Mexico is located in a semi-arid climate, and our Phosphates business in Florida is in a region with restricted groundwater resources.

In an effort to better understand and prepare for these risks and opportunities, Mosaic is:

Partnering with key universities around the globe to develop fertilizers that can help crops thrive on less water while producing high yields.
Developing new fertilizer blends to mitigate and optimize potential changes in rainfall patterns.
Working with the Global Landscapes Initiative (GLI) at the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota. GLI's Crop Mapper program uses data from NASA to help identify changing global patterns in irrigation, crop nutrient usage and yields — very important information if changes in precipitation patterns become severe.
Making water recycling a key strategic goal in anticipation of changing weather patterns and potential shortages, our intense recycling and reuse achievements — 95 percent in Phosphates and 82 percent in Canadian Potash — together with effective groundwater management programs, are meeting business needs while continually reducing our water footprint.
Identifying a sustainable, cost-effective mix of technical improvements that preserves water resources and improves productivity.
Working with regulatory agencies in Florida to voluntarily reduce permitted peak consumption.
Developing strategies to drive long-term water management strategies around water consumption, inventory monitoring and use reductions through processed water recycling.