Source of phosphate for agriculture and the food industry

A method comprising:

• a) digesting a phosphate source using a first aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid to form an attack liquor consisting of an aqueous phase comprising phosphate ions and chloride ions in solution, and a first insoluble solid phase containing impurities,
• b) separating the aqueous phase comprising phosphate and chloride ions in solution from the first insoluble solid phase containing impurities,
• c) neutralizing said aqueous phase comprising phosphate ions and chloride ions in solution at a pH sufficient to form an aqueous medium comprising chloride ions and to precipitate the phosphate ions in the form of a phosphate salt,
• d) separating said aqueous medium comprising chloride ions from said phosphate salt,
• wherein a) and b) are performed at a temperature between 50° C. and 70° C. for a duration less than two hours and wherein said first aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid has an HCl concentration of 12-15% by weight, and further wherein the neutralization carried out in c) takes less than one hour.