Nongda Fertilizer Industry Co., Ltd. jointly initiated the establishment of the China Trace and Micronutrient Fertilizer Industry Branch, paving the way for new industry developments.

On January 17, 2016, the inaugural meeting of the Trace Elements and Micronutrient Fertilizer Industry Branch of the China Inorganic Salt Industry Association—sponsored by the Association, co-organized by Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd., and jointly initiated with 56 research institutions, industry enterprises, and media outlets, including China Agricultural University, the Nanjing Institute of Soil Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anhui Huawei Ecological Fertilizer, Jinzhengda Group, Yuntianhua Group, and Hubei Xinyangfeng—was held in Beijing.

Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the principal founding entities. Its chairman, Ma Xuewen, was elected as the first vice president and stated that the establishment of the industry sub‑association will play a crucial role in accelerating the development of micronutrient fertilizer production, elevating and popularizing scientific farming and fertilization practices, and advancing China’s agricultural modernization. Over its 20 years of operation, Agricultural University Fertilizer has consistently focused on the nutritional needs of “fertilizer, crops, and soil,” advocating “balanced fertilization and soil care” while dedicating itself to the research and development of innovative functional fertilizers. Currently, the company has pioneered a new type of soil conditioner rich in secondary and micronutrients, formulated with humic acid, calcium, magnesium, silicon, and other essential trace elements. This product effectively mitigates deficiency‑related physiological disorders in crops, improves soil quality, raises soil pH by 0.27 units, and significantly addresses soil acidification. According to Ge Yuming, Director of the Company’s Strategic Development Center, building on its existing innovations, the company will expedite the development and market introduction of next‑generation secondary and micronutrient fertilizers. The goal is to help more farmers recognize the critical importance of these fertilizers for crop yield, quality, soil health, and environmental sustainability, promote their widespread adoption, and continue to lead the industry’s ongoing evolution.

More than 200 leaders, guests, industry experts, and representatives from enterprises—including Fu Xiangsheng, Vice President of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation; Zhang Fan, Deputy Director of the Petrochemical Division of the Raw Materials Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Li Rong, Director of the Soil and Fertilizer Quality Monitoring Division at the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center; Zhang Fusuo, Director of the Center for Resources, Environment, and Food Security at China Agricultural University; Wang Xu, Director of the National Fertilizer Quality Inspection and Testing Center (Beijing); Shang Zhaocong, Deputy Director of the National Fertilizer Quality Inspection and Testing Center (Shanghai); and Wang Xiaofeng, President of the China Inorganic Salt Industry Association—attended the event to witness the establishment of the Sub‑Committee on Micronutrient and Trace Element Fertilizers.

Research shows that secondary and micronutrients are essential nutrients indispensable for the healthy growth of plants, playing a crucial role in both crop yield and quality. Over the past century, the application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers has increased dramatically, yet the secondary and micronutrients removed by crops have not been systematically replenished. According to statistics, globally, soils deficient in secondary and micronutrients cover an area of 2.5 billion hectares, and in China, medium- and low-yielding fields account for more than 70% of the total cultivated land, with most of these areas suffering from deficiencies in secondary and micronutrients. Vigorously promoting the use of fertilizers containing secondary and micronutrients is not only vital for boosting crop yields, enhancing product quality, improving agricultural efficiency, and mitigating environmental risks, but also serves as a key technological foundation and measure for advancing the transformation and upgrading of the fertilizer industry and achieving the “zero‑growth” target for fertilizer use by 2020. Accordingly, the establishment of the Secondary and Micronutrient Fertilizer Industry Branch marks a new phase of robust development for China’s secondary and micronutrient fertilizer sector—characterized by scale, organization, and standardization—and holds milestone significance for the industry’s sustainable and healthy growth.