“Nitrogen-based fertilizers—efficient, environmentally friendly, and capable of enhancing both the quality and productivity of agricultural products—why are they still so underutilized?” Faced with this question from both the industry and society, on March 30, China Chemical Industry News’ “Agricultural Inputs Weekly” joined forces with leading companies including Shanxi Huaxin Fertilizer, Shenzhen Bata, Hebei Jiheng Group Sairui, Guangdong Ladome, Wuwei Jincang Bio, Tianji Coal Chemical Group, Hubei Saning Chemical, and Hubei Kailong Chuxing Chemical to launch the 2021 Initiative for High-Quality Development of Nitrogen-Based Fertilizers in Beijing. The initiative aims to bring together industry experts and senior executives from key enterprises to create an efficient communication platform, gain a clear understanding of the industry’s current status, identify critical challenges facing its development, set industry benchmarks, and wholeheartedly promote the high-quality development of the nitrogen-based fertilizer sector.

Conference venue

At the launch ceremony, the experts in attendance conducted an in-depth analysis and discussion on the challenges currently facing the nitrofertilizer industry.

Cui Xuejun, Secretary of the Party Committee and Editor-in-Chief of China National Chemical Industry News.

Cui Xuejun, Party Secretary and Editor-in-Chief of the China National Chemical Industry News, stated that nitrate fertilizers, as an important type of chemical fertilizer, have been closely monitored by the China National Chemical Industry News for many years. As early as 2018, the newspaper began organizing an industry initiative for the high-quality development of nitro-based fertilizers. With the support of all of you, we’ve carried out extensive work that has led to nitro-based fertilizers being included in the national catalog of products encouraged and supported by the government. This year, once again, the newspaper is launching another industry initiative for nitro-based fertilizers. With the support of all parties and leveraging the power of the media, we aim to further enhance society’s scientific understanding of nitro-based fertilizers, restore their rightful status, and address the industry’s lingering uncertainties.

Zhang Jianqiu, Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Publisher of China Chemical Industry News.

Zhang Jianqiu, Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Director of the China National Chemical Industry News, stated that the "Agricultural Inputs Herald" of the China National Chemical Industry News is organizing a comprehensive-media initiative on the high-quality development of nitrate fertilizers. This initiative aims to showcase to the public a selection of cutting-edge technologies and new products that are leading the industry’s development, thereby providing solutions for the high-quality and healthy growth of China’s nitrate fertilizer sector. According to him, the event will involve in-depth field visits to industry associations, key nitrate fertilizer enterprises, and product application markets, conducting a thorough investigation into the current state of the nitrate fertilizer industry. Through this process, the event will identify deep-seated issues and challenges facing the industry’s development, amplify the industry’s voice, explore directions for its future healthy growth, highlight advanced exemplary cases, and establish industry benchmarks.

Li Tengfei, Executive Deputy General Manager of Shanxi Huaxin Group Co., Ltd.

Li Tengfei, Executive Deputy General Manager of Shanxi Huaxin Group Co., Ltd., stated that currently, there are still many misconceptions in the market regarding nitro fertilizers—for example, the belief that nitro fertilizers are suitable only for cash crops and not for field crops. At the same time, the state’s stringent regulations on hazardous chemicals have also to some extent hindered the development of nitro fertilizers. As a result, the safety of nitro fertilizer products has yet to be scientifically verified, leading to widespread skepticism and imposing various restrictions on these products in terms of production, storage, and transportation.

Top left: Gao Xiangzhao, Chief Expert at the National Agricultural Technology Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Top right: Du Senzhong, Director of the Soil and Fertilizer Division, National Agricultural Technology Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Left: Xiu Xuefeng, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Phosphate and Compound Fertilizer Industry Association. Middle right: Wang Hong, Director of the National Fertilizer Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Beijing). Bottom left: Wang Lei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Society for Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers. Bottom right: Su Jianying, Secretary-General of the Nitric Acid and Ammonium Nitrate Division, China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association.

Gao Xiangzhao, chief expert at the National Agricultural Technology Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, believes that the nitrofertilizer industry has not conducted sufficient research on adjusting product formulations, nor has it responded effectively enough to societal misunderstandings. Moreover, there is insufficient research on the scientific application of nitrofertilizers; questions such as which crops, which regions, and when to apply these fertilizers remain unclear.

Xiu Xuefeng, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Phosphate and Compound Fertilizer Industry Association, Du Sen, Director of the Soil and Fertilizer Division at the National Agricultural Technology Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wang Hong, Director of the China Fertilizer Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Beijing), Wang Lei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Society for Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, Su Jianying, Secretary-General of the Ammonium Nitrate Calcium Magnesium Fertilizer Branch of the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association, and Niu Tianliang, Senior Advisor, among other experts, discussed the challenges faced by nitro-fertilizers in areas such as safe production, market promotion, product quality, and agrochemical services.

Top left: Shanxi Huaxin Fertilizer Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager Zhang Ziyu Top right: Feng Junqiang, Vice President of Shenzhen Bati Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd.  

Center-left: Li Jingli, General Manager of Hebei Jiheng Group Sairui Chemical Co., Ltd. Center-right: Lin Shengliang, Deputy General Manager of Guangdong Ladoem Fertilizer Co., Ltd.

Bottom left: Wang Zhibin, Deputy Manager of the Sales Company, Tianji Coal Chemical Group Co., Ltd. Bottom right: Huang Xingbai, Department Head of Hubei Saning Chemical Co., Ltd.

Top left: Niu Tianliang, Senior Advisor of the Nitric Acid and Ammonium Nitrate Branch of the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association. Top right: Hubei Kailong Chuxing Chemical Group Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager Wang Liyun, center-left: Yu Yizhong, Chairman and General Manager of Wuwei Jincang Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; center-right: Gao Yu, Deputy General Manager of Wuwei Jincang Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; bottom-left: Tian Yaoxiong, General Manager of Qinhuangdao Wuxian Wei'ai Technology Development Co., Ltd. Bottom right: Fu Jisheng, Chairman of Chongqing Fuyuan Chemical Co., Ltd.

Regarding how to further promote the high-quality development of nitrate fertilizers, Zhang Ziyu, Deputy General Manager of Shanxi Huaxin Fertilizer Industry; Feng Junqiang, Vice President of Batai Shares; Li Jingli, General Manager of Hebei Jiheng Sairui Chemical; Lin Shengliang, Deputy General Manager of Guangdong Ladome Fertilizer; Wang Zhibin, Deputy Manager of the Sales Company of Tianji Coal Chemical Group; Huang Xingbai, Sales Director of Hubei San Ning Chemical; Wang Liyun, Deputy General Manager of Hubei Kailong Chuxing Chemical Group; Yu Yizhong, Chairman and General Manager of Wuwei Jincang Biotechnology; Tian Yaoxiong, General Manager of Qinhuangdao Wuxian Wei'ai Technology; Fu Jisheng, Chairman of Chongqing Fuyuan Chemical; and Tang Yongsheng, Head of Shandong Lüquan Vegetable Professional Cooperative, each put forward suggestions from different perspectives.

Jiang ShanJun, Assistant to the President of China National Chemical Industry News and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of “Agricultural Input Guide,” and Xiao Li, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, attended the meeting.

Group photo of the attendees

Source: Agricultural Inputs Herald, Author: Zhang Muzao Photography by Jiang Yingyue; Edited this issue by Xiao Shen