China Agricultural Inputs Media – Nongda Fertilizer’s Taishan “sets the stage,” while the “Peach King” of Xiaozhi delivers a powerful “sacrificial ceremony”!

On the evening of January 21, the 2017 Nongda Fertilizer Industry Cup “China’s High-Quality Agricultural Products: A Challenge to the World Guinness Records” Grand Final Night kicked off at the West Auditorium of Shandong Agricultural University. Over 500 leaders and experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, the China Humic Acid Industry Association, and Shandong Agricultural University, along with representatives from mainstream industry media and distributors, gathered to celebrate this prestigious event.

To better promote new types of fertilizers and scientific farming practices, and to support the national goals of achieving “zero growth” in fertilizer use and enhancing agricultural productivity while reducing input, Nongda Fertilizer launched, in early 2017, the “Nongda Fertilizer Cup: China’s High-Quality Agricultural Products—Challenging the World Guinness Record” series of events. Building on the Grain King Competition, this initiative targeted China’s major high-quality agricultural production regions. Over the course of one year, and following rigorous, impartial professional evaluations, six outstanding farmers emerged victorious from among more than 50,000 participants, earning the title of regional champions.

At the finals of the Nongda Fertilizer Cup’s annual championship, six top-tier growers—Sun Dengning, the “Grape King” of Dazeshan; Du Xinggong, the “Apple King” with a warm heart; Zhang Zhifa, the “Peach King” and filial son from Mengyin; the “Potato King” from Tengzhou, Chef Man Yi; Liu Yifeng, the “Ginger King” and poet from Changle; and Gao Rijia, the “Pear King” from Laiyang—engaged in fierce competition. Following individual VCR presentations and on‑stage speeches, the contestants were evaluated through multiple rounds: expert judging (60% weight), media scoring (30% weight), and WeChat voting (10% weight). In the end, Zhang Zhifa, the “Peach King” from Mengyin County, Shandong Province, clinched the annual championship with a score of 89.90 and was awarded a 100,000‑yuan Dream‑Support Fund.

It is understood that “Peach King” Zhang Zhifa not only excels at cultivating peach trees but is also a widely recognized filial son. As the family’s only child, he has for many years single-handedly shouldered the costs of supporting his elderly parents and three solitary uncles. Speaking about his aspirations, Zhang Zhifa sincerely stated that he plans to use the Dream‑Support Fund provided by Nongda Fertilizer to improve the living conditions of these elders, while further expanding his peach orchard, refining his cultivation techniques, and producing higher‑quality peaches as a way of giving back to society.

It is worth noting that this conference also officially launched the 2018 “China Agricultural University Humic Acid Guinness Challenge” as a new chapter.

Shandong Agricultural University is a century-old prestigious institution, renowned for its motto “Climb high only by starting from the ground” and its distinctive spirit: “Patriotism and love for the university, simplicity and moral integrity, pursuit of truth and innovation, and pragmatic dedication to progress.” As a fertilizer enterprise affiliated with the university, for more than two decades, Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Co., Ltd. has pursued a development strategy centered on “rooted in the university, nurturing the soil, balancing nutrition, and fostering harmony between soil and fertility.” The company has focused exclusively on humic acid, mastered the core technology of humic acid activation, and been awarded the China Patent Excellence Award.

At the conference, Ma Xuewen, Chairman and General Manager of Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd., stated that since its inception, the company has adhered to rigorous scientific standards in soil and fertilizer research, set the goal of “safeguarding the reputation of Shandong Agricultural University and building a century‑long enterprise,” and embraced industry–university–research collaboration as its sustainable development model, steadily growing stronger. To date, the company has established five national‑level research platforms, including a National Postdoctoral Research Station, as well as five provincial‑level research platforms; it has undertaken five major science and technology projects under the 13th Five-Year Plan, formulated two national standards and six industry standards, and holds more than 80 patents. Integrating humic acid fertilizers, controlled‑release fertilizers, biofertilizers, water‑soluble fertilizers, and soil conditioners, the company has developed a “Humic Acid Plus” product line, becoming a dynamic force and a cornerstone in China’s humic acid fertilizer sector. Moving forward, Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. will continue to research and promote innovative, high‑efficiency products and technologies, contributing its expertise to farmers and to the green development of Chinese agriculture.

At this conference, Bai Youlu, Director of the Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers (Comprehensive) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Chairman of the Chinese Society for Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers; Zeng Xiancheng, Honorary President of the China Humic Acid Industry Association; Zhang Xiansheng, President of Shandong Agricultural University; and Ma Xuewen, Chairman and General Manager of Nongda Fertilizer Co., Ltd., jointly unveiled the plaque for Nongda Fertilizer’s “Key Laboratory of Humic Acid-Based Fertilizers of the Ministry of Agriculture.”

Zeng Xiancheng, Honorary President of the China Humic Acid Industry Association, expressed his appreciation for Nongda Fertilizer Co., Ltd. with a poem titled “Ode to the Wise Lion.”

According to the introduction, the laboratory is headed by Ma Xuewen, and its academic committee comprises numerous leading researchers and experts from China’s humic acid fertilizer sector. The lab aims to enhance the bioactivity of humic acids by investigating a variety of activation methods and application technologies, thereby further advancing the five key functions of humic acids—soil improvement, enhanced fertilizer efficiency, stimulation of crop growth, improved crop quality, and increased stress resistance. This work will provide substantial support for the development of humic acid fertilizers and green agriculture in China.