Xinhua Net – Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Industry: Enabling More Farmers to Use Better Fertilizers

“For more than three years, Nongda Fertilizer Industry has collaborated with the Agricultural Technology Extension Center of the Ministry of Agriculture. Trials have demonstrated that, while maintaining or even increasing crop yields, fertilizer use can be reduced by 15% to 20%,” said Ma Xuewen, Chairman of Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd., recently.

Replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers requires a gradual process, according to Ma Xuewen. “Organic fertilizer is an organic material, and its integration with conventional chemical fertilizers represents a synergy between organic and inorganic components, delivering benefits that exceed the sum of their individual effects for both soil and crops.” Speaking about the demonstration trials in which Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Co., Ltd. has participated, Yang Fan of the Soil and Fertilizer Division at the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center stated that the Center stands ready to continue collaborating with Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Co., Ltd. Building on a thorough evaluation of the outcomes from previous trials, they will refine the experimental and demonstration‑based promotion plan, strengthen technical guidance and cooperation, and strive to achieve favorable results in scaling up these practices.

Actively participate in the development of humic acid standards.

“Store grain in the land, store grain in technology.” As a university‑run enterprise, Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Co., Ltd. boasts a relatively advanced R&D capability. To address industry irregularities, the company has actively participated in the development of humic acid standards and shared its best practices. According to Ma Xuewen, since producing its first ton of humic acid fertilizer more than two decades ago, the company has accumulated extensive experience and continuously upgraded its technical expertise. Shandong Agricultural University Fertilizer Co., Ltd. feels both responsible and obligated to share these proven approaches with the broader community, while also taking an active role in formulating national industry standards, with the hope of contributing to the sector’s sound and sustainable development.

According to the “13th Five-Year Plan Outline for the Development of China’s Humic Acid Industry,” standardization efforts in China are severely lagging behind. The industry has long grappled with issues such as chaotic standardization management, outdated and missing standards, and insufficient funding for standard‑development, all of which significantly constrain its growth.

“Within China, these standards have filled critical gaps in the industry and helped to standardize its development; some of the indicators even address previously unmet needs on the international stage,” Ma Xuewen explained. “For example, coating technology is currently being proposed for an international standard. At the same time, companies are actively collaborating with countries that lead in humic acid fertilizer research to jointly develop global standards.” According to Liu Gang, Director of the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners and Director of the National Fertilizer Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Shanghai), Nongda Fertilizer has made outstanding contributions to building a robust standards framework for fertilizers and soil conditioners. To date, eight national and industry standards are either already published or under development, driving progress across key sectors such as humic acids, controlled-release fertilizers, and soil conditioners.

Holding the China High-Quality Agricultural Products Guinness World Records Challenge Event

The development of China’s agriculture is inseparable from technologically advanced enterprises. To deepen supply-side reform in the agricultural sector and achieve zero growth in fertilizer use, it is equally essential to engage farmers at the grassroots level. To enable more farmers to access high‑end, premium fertilizers that are both beneficial to the soil and to crops, Nongda Fertilizer has organized multiple “Grain King Competitions,” using these events to enhance farmers’ awareness of high‑quality fertilizers.

This year, the “Grain King Competition” has been rebranded as the “China High-Quality Agricultural Products Challenge to the World Guinness Record.” Speaking on this, Ma Xuewen stated: “At this year’s Nongda Fertilizer Marketing Summit held in Hangzhou, we only presented awards to the ‘Grain Kings’ from Shandong. In addition to Shandong, we simultaneously launched the ‘Grain King Competition’ in Henan, Hubei, and Hebei provinces; however, the selection process in those regions is still ongoing. Going forward, these initiatives will be rolled out nationwide. The term ‘Grain King’ may lead to misunderstandings, giving the impression that the competition is exclusively for farmers who grow grain crops. In reality, alongside the ‘Grain King,’ we also organize contests for ‘Ginger King,’ ‘Watermelon King,’ and ‘Peach King.’ Therefore, the name ‘Grain King Competition’ no longer adequately reflects the scope of our future work and activities.”

He also noted, “The name change is intended to elevate the event, particularly by broadening its scope across different crops. The selection criteria will shift from focusing solely on yield to balancing yield with quality; taste, quality, visual appeal, and marketability will all be factored into the evaluation. We will organize the next edition of the event through multiple angles and channels, encouraging greater participation from farmers, transforming their production practices, and accelerating China’s progress toward green, ecological, and sustainable development in agriculture and rural areas.”