[College of Business, China Agricultural University] The second session of the “Distinguished Speakers Forum”—a training workshop on rice cultivation without supplemental fertilization—was successfully held.

(Reported by Ran Weifang) On February 7, the second session of the “Distinguished Speaker Forum” hosted by the Nongda Fertilizer Industry Business School—the Rice No‑Replenishment Fertilization Training—was successfully held at the company. Attending the training were Ma Xuewen, Chairman and General Manager of Nongda Fertilizer Industry and Dean of the Business School; Ding Fangjun, Deputy General Manager and Director of the Soil Ecology Research Institute; Song Huabing, General Manager of the Marketing Company and Vice Dean of the Business School; Chen Shigeng, Deputy Director of the Soil Ecology Research Institute; Li Hongqiang, Director of Human Resources at Nongda Fertilizer Industry and Academic Dean of the Business School; as well as more than 60 sales elites, R&D personnel, and agrochemical specialists from the company. Professor Yang Yuechao of Shandong Agricultural University, a doctoral supervisor, served as the specially invited keynote speaker for this session.

Drawing on Confucius’s saying, “Thinking without action is of no avail; it is better to learn,” Ma Xuewen pointed out that the establishment of the Business School by Nongda Fertilizer Group aims to equip its business teams with knowledge and technology, enhance their professional skills, and provide a solid talent base for the company’s growth, striving to ensure that all efforts are focused in one direction. At the same time, the school seeks to cultivate high‑caliber professionals who can contribute to the development of China’s fertilizer industry. The Business School primarily employs training‑based and action‑oriented learning approaches, encouraging participants to learn, apply what they’ve learned, and continuously improve—thereby empowering themselves, strengthening their teams, and driving the company’s expansion.

Yang Yuechao delivered a report titled “Research and Application of Humic Acid Slow-Release Fertilizer in Simplified Rice Production.” He pointed out that, compared with conventional fertilizers, the no‑reapplication fertilizer for rice jointly developed by Shandong Agricultural University and Nongda Fertilizer Industry addresses longstanding challenges such as low fertilizer use efficiency, resource waste, environmental pollution, and high labor and time costs. Its vigorous promotion and widespread adoption hold significant importance in the history of rice cultivation in China. Following the presentation, Yang Yuechao engaged in in-depth discussions with the attendees, who unanimously expressed that they had gained substantial insights.

To make better use of the action-learning approach, the meeting instructed each sales branch to engage in in-depth discussions with experts on local rice cultivation and fertilization practices, resulting in the following conclusions:

1. The rice fertilizer developed by Nongda Fertilizer boasts excellent nutrient efficiency, prevents nutrient leaching, saves labor and time, and boosts both yield and income, making it a new‑type fertilizer product worthy of vigorous promotion.

II. Each sales company shall tailor its promotional efforts to local soil conditions, farming practices, and other site-specific factors. It should make full and effective use of the technologies and products developed by Shandong Agricultural University and Nongda Fertilizer Co., Ltd., as well as the expertise of their agrochemical and R&D personnel, and formulate fertilizer formulations and application methods that are well-suited to local conditions.

III. In certain traditional fertilizer‑using regions, the sales teams should vigorously promote and apply our products, making full use of Nongda Fertilizer Industry’s proven “effectiveness‑verification” approach. By delivering tangible results, they can earn the trust and favor of farmers—achieving a milestone in China’s agricultural history.

Ma Xuewen concluded by emphasizing that all staff should strengthen their confidence in Shandong Agricultural University, Nongda Fertilizer Industry, and innovative products such as rice’s no‑reapplication fertilizer. He urged them not only to acquire knowledge and skills but also to apply them in their work and bring these advancements directly to farmers’ fields, thereby providing more scientifically sound products and technical services to rice growers nationwide.

Finally, Song Huabing stated that going forward, training for the business teams will be institutionalized as a routine activity, seamlessly integrating instruction with practical application and placing greater emphasis on tangible results and effective implementation. At the same time, in future training initiatives, the Business School will not only welcome participants in, but also reach out beyond its walls, striving wholeheartedly to ensure that “more farmers can access higher‑quality fertilizers.”