Bonemeal is a fertiliser produced by grinding animal bones, and sometimes horns, into a fine powder. It supplies phosphorus and calcium to soils in a slow-release organic form, making it useful for root development, flowering, and fruiting crops. Organic and home gardeners value it as a natural alternative to synthetic phosphate fertilisers. Because it originates from animal tissue, bonemeal falls under strict regulations in many countries following bovine spongiform encephalopathy concerns, and it must not enter the animal feed chain. Its use in food-crop production is permitted under organic standards in several jurisdictions, provided it comes from approved sources.