“Nongda” humic acid fertilizer supports the nation’s major research and development program.

(This report by Guo Xin-song) On September 19, 2016, the kickoff meeting for the National Key R&D Program project “Development of Novel Compound and Water-Soluble Fertilizers” was held in Beijing. Ding Fangjun, Deputy General Manager of Technology at Nongda Fertilizer Industry and the project leader, led his technical team to attend the meeting.

Zhao Bingqiang, chief scientist of the project and a researcher at the Institute of Resource and Regional Planning of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, pointed out that over the past three decades, while chemical fertilizers have made significant contributions to increasing crop yields and ensuring national food security, they have also given rise to a host of pressing issues, including environmental pollution, declining soil quality, and concerns about the safety and quality of agricultural products. One of the underlying causes is the poor alignment between compound fertilizer formulations and regional soils and crops, coupled with unscientific ratios of nutrient elements and inadequate compatibility among nutrient forms, leading to substantial nutrient losses and low rates of fixation and utilization.

Researcher Zhao Bingqiang fully endorsed and highly commended Nongda Fertilizer Industry’s more than two decades of innovative research and development. He noted that, as a national high-tech enterprise pioneering the innovative advancement of humic acid fertilizers, Nongda Fertilizer Industry was the first to apply humic acid as an efficiency‑enhancing additive in compound fertilizers, thereby developing a series of humic acid fertilizer products that are nutritionally comprehensive, optimally formulated, and capable of boosting both yield and efficiency, thus establishing itself as a leading national brand in the humic acid fertilizer sector. Furthermore, the industry standard for “Humic Acid Compound Fertilizers,” spearheaded by Nongda Fertilizer Industry, has been approved by vote of the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners and is scheduled to be officially released and implemented in the near future.

Ding Fangjun, Vice President of Technology at Nongda Fertilizer Industry, pointed out that since its establishment 21 years ago, the company has remained committed to the mission of “enabling more farmers to access higher‑quality fertilizers,” continuously driving technological innovation and developing a series of humic‑acid‑based compound fertilizers. Looking ahead, Nongda Fertilizer Industry will remain dedicated to science and innovation, respond to national calls, and support the major R&D initiative on “the development of new compound and water‑soluble fertilizers,” thereby contributing to increased agricultural yields and incomes while helping achieve zero growth in fertilizer use.

It is reported that the National Key R&D Program focuses on long-term, socially beneficial research addressing issues of national importance and people’s livelihoods, as well as on major scientific challenges, critical common technologies, and products that are vital to industrial core competitiveness, overall independent innovation capacity, and national security. “Research and Development of Integrated Technologies for Reducing Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticide Use while Enhancing Efficiency” is one of six pilot special projects. The project “Development of Novel Compound and Water-Soluble Fertilizers,” in which Nongda Fertilizer Co., Ltd. participates, has a total investment of 103.4 million yuan. Led by the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, it brings together China Agricultural University, Yuntianhua, Nongda Fertilizer Co., Ltd., and 31 other universities, research institutes, and leading large enterprises.