Phosphorus, Policy, and the Systems That Shape Outcomes

What does phosphorus policy actually look like beyond regulations and legislation, and how do institutions shape the outcomes we see on the ground? In this episode of PhosForUS, hosts Alison Deviney (Postdoctoral Researcher, STEPS Center) and Barira Rashid (PhD Candidate, University of Arkansas) sit down with Jay Rickabaugh, Assistant Professor of Public Administration at North Carolina State University, to explore the governance side of phosphorus sustainability.Together, they discuss how phosphorus is managed across different agencies, sectors, and scales, the challenges of coordinating agricultural, environmental, and water quality goals, and what the recent designation of phosphorus as a critical mineral could mean for future policy discussions. They also examine how institutions, incentives, and decision-making structures influence phosphorus outcomes, and where opportunities exist for more integrated and systems-oriented approaches.Whether you work in environmental policy, agriculture, sustainability, or resource management, this conversation provides a foundation for understanding one of the central questions facing phosphorus sustainability today: how can governance systems better support long-term environmental, economic, and societal outcomes?Topics discussed: phosphorus policy, environmental governance, public administration, critical minerals, water quality, nutrient management, sustainability policy, systems thinking, and phosphorus sustainability.