World fertilizer experts gather in Shenyang to discuss the healthy development of agriculture.

Release Date:

2018-09-06

　　China feeds 22% of the world’s population using less than 10% of the world’s arable land, a feat closely linked to the rational application of fertilizers. Recently, the 17th World Fertilizer Congress was held in Shenyang, co-hosted by the International Center for Fertilizer Science (CIEC) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and jointly organized by the Shenyang Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Shenyang Institute), the German Federal Research Centre for Agriculture, and the Shenyang Municipal Association for Science and Technology. More than 800 experts and scholars, industry representatives, and faculty and students from universities and research institutes—hailing from over 20 countries and regions including China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia—attended the event.

　　This conference, themed “GoEast! Fertilizers Future!”, featured nine specialized sub‑sessions, covering topics such as “Coated and Compound Fertilizers,” “Stabilized Fertilizers and Fertilizer Transformation Processes,” “Carbon‑Based and Amino Acid Fertilizers,” “Fertilization and the Environment,” “Soil Nutrient Management and Fertilization,” and “Bio‑Organic Fertilizers.”

　　The participating experts delivered invited presentations on the latest advances and emerging trends across multiple areas of fertilizer research and application, and engaged in international scholarly exchanges addressing challenges such as fertilizers and fertilization technologies that constrain agricultural production.

　　In recent years, China’s engagement with the global fertilizer sector has continued to expand, and China is now tapping into the world’s vast fertilizer market. Meanwhile, trade‑facilitation platforms established by leading organizations such as IFA, FMB, and CAC have brought additional world‑class players into the Chinese market.

　　According to statistics, in 2016 China’s nitrogen fertilizer consumption alone reached 44.588 million tons, making it the world’s largest producer and consumer of nitrogen fertilizers.

　　The application of nitrogen fertilizers plays a crucial role in increasing grain yields and ensuring food security; however, China’s nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate stands at only 25–35%, which is 15–30 percentage points lower than that of European and American countries.

　　At the conference, Zhang Yaping, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated that the primary reason for the low efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer use is the loss of applied nitrogen through various pathways after it enters the soil. This not only represents a significant economic waste but also gives rise to serious environmental and ecological problems. Consequently, improving fertilizer-use efficiency, strengthening research in fertilizer science and technology, and advancing technological innovation and product diversification within the fertilizer industry are pressing challenges facing China’s agricultural and fertilizer sectors. As a result, cutting-edge fertilizer production technologies and highly efficient fertilizer utilization and conversion methods are receiving increasing attention from the national government, the industry, and enterprises.

　　This conference aims to accelerate the development of soil nutrition and fertilizer science, promote the healthy and rapid growth of China’s fertilizer industry, and achieve… Fertilizer The zero‑growth target is of great significance, representing a scientifically grounded implementation of the national fundamental strategy for ecological civilization and the concept of green development.

　　In addition, the conference has established a 3,000-square-meter exhibition area for showcasing achievements and products, with more than 40 fertilizer companies participating to present the industry’s latest breakthroughs and new offerings, while engaging in on-site discussions with experts and peers.