China Chemical News – The Humic Acid Fertilizer Innovation Alliance Has Been Established in Response to Demand

On November 30, at the 20th-anniversary celebration of Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. held in Tai’an, Shandong Province, the China Humic Acid Fertilizer Industry Innovation Strategic Alliance was established. The alliance aims to unite stakeholders across the humic acid fertilizer sector, elevate the industry’s development level, and advance initiatives to achieve “zero growth” in fertilizer use while restoring agricultural ecosystems.

Under the new circumstances—namely, “zero growth” in fertilizer use and the phasing out of preferential policies for the fertilizer industry—traditional fertilizers face relative overcapacity. By contrast, humic acid fertilizers have garnered increasing attention due to their environmentally friendly nature, remarkable efficacy, ability to enhance fertilizer use efficiency, and soil‑improving properties. Nevertheless, in recent years, the humic acid fertilizer sector has been plagued by issues such as small-scale production enterprises, inadequate standards, and low levels of technological sophistication. To accelerate the upgrading of the humic acid fertilizer industry, fulfill the national mission of “reducing fertilizer application while boosting efficiency,” and make a positive contribution to building green farmlands and beautiful countryside, Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd. and the China Humic Acid Industry Association have jointly initiated the establishment of the China Humic Acid Fertilizer Industry Innovation Strategic Alliance.

The alliance is enterprise‑driven, bringing together research institutes, universities, extension agencies, and large-scale growers to achieve integrated collaboration across production, education, research, extension, and application. To date, the alliance has received enthusiastic support from numerous enterprises, including Shandong Humic Acid Efficient Utilization Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing Aojia Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd., and Shandong Sada‑shi Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

The Secretariat of the China Humic Acid Industry Association stated in the alliance’s initiating proposal that combining humic acid with macro-, meso-, and micronutrients could usher in a new era of “Fertilizer Industry 4.0.” The alliance’s secretariat recommends leveraging the alliance to build a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for humic‑acid‑based fertilizers; strengthening industry self‑regulation to safeguard sectoral interests and ensure sound, sustainable development; facilitating policy coordination and promptly conveying industry‑specific policy challenges to relevant national authorities; actively pursuing international cooperation to broaden global perspectives and enhance international influence; and convening an annual members’ conference to discuss issues of common concern among alliance members and facilitate timely exchanges of industry information.

At the founding ceremony, Ding Fangjun, Deputy General Manager of Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd., read out the Alliance’s initiative. The initiative states: “The superior qualities and proven efficacy of humic acid fertilizers in enhancing soil quality are increasingly evident, and they will play a vital role in safeguarding food security. To further accelerate the development of China’s humic acid fertilizer industry, the Alliance will promote a new mechanism and model of collaborative innovation, with enterprises as the main actors and the market as the guiding force, thereby fostering independent innovation, strengthening the industry’s capacity for technological advancement, and elevating its core competitiveness. The establishment of this Alliance serves the common interests of all its members. We sincerely invite colleagues who support and care about the development of humic acid fertilizers to join us, shouldering the important mission of reducing fertilizer application, serving agriculture, and making unremitting efforts to upgrade China’s humic acid fertilizer sector, ensure bountiful harvests, and protect soil ecological safety.”