On July 8, jointly organized by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners, the Editorial Department of “Fertilizers and Health,” and the Hangzhou International Center for Standardization Exchange, 2019 Forum on the Internationalization of Standards for Innovative Fertilizer Achievements The event was held in Hangzhou, bringing together representatives from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the European Committee for Standardization’s Technical Committee on Biostimulants, the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners, the Chinese Society for Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, as well as industry leaders such as Chengdu Yuntu Holdings and Anhui Silter. Experts called for an urgent re‑evaluation of the fertilizer industry’s innovation agenda, with a focus on health‑oriented approaches, and urged that this perspective serve as a foundation for advancing the internationalization of China’s fertilizer standards and fostering sustainable agricultural development.
“How to prioritize crop and animal health right at the source of fertilizers is a novel yet urgent guiding principle—and a defining challenge of the new era,” said Shang Zhaocong, Executive Deputy Director of the National Fertilizer Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Shanghai) and Secretary-General of the National Technical Committee on Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners, at the conference. He added that future fertilizer standards will be oriented toward health, with a new standard‑setting framework designed to assess the health impacts of agricultural inputs, thereby steering the industry’s development. According to reports, at present, National and industry standards, such as “Limit Requirements for Toxic and Harmful Substances in Fertilizers” and “Green Product Evaluation—Fertilizers,” are currently being drafted and prepared for promulgation. 。
Data show that, due to the use of chemical fertilizers, grain yields per hectare surged from 2.4 tonnes in 1970 to 4.6 tonnes in 2010. At the same time, excessive fertilizer application has triggered a host of soil-related problems, which in turn compromise agricultural product quality and human health. According to a scientific report, while the appearance of modern produce may seem increasingly appealing, nutritional analyses reveal that mineral content in plants declined by 22% between 1939 and 1991. “The health risks stemming from soil degradation are not confined to specific regions; they represent a widespread challenge. Shifting our focus from maximizing grain yields to prioritizing both crop and human health will prompt the fertilizer industry to rethink its approach,” argues Shang Zhaocong.
Reimagining the fertilizer industry from a health‑oriented perspective is a global trend in agriculture. Tabari, a member of the ISO Council and Secretary General of the Technical Committee on Fertilizers, Soil Conditioners, and Beneficial Substances, noted that today, 700 million people worldwide still live below the poverty line, and 750 million suffer from malnutrition. Fertilizers are vital to humanity’s future; although the International Organization for Standardization has already established numerous fertilizer standards, further refinement is needed to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
In response to economic globalization and the Belt and Road Initiative, advancing the internationalization of China’s fertilizer standards and transitioning from a follower to a leader represents another major challenge facing the Chinese fertilizer industry. Tabari argues that for many years, developed countries have actively participated in and dominated standard-setting, while developing countries, lacking relevant information, have remained largely on the sidelines. Developing nations must proactively engage in the formulation of international standards; only then can these standards effectively influence our businesses—and ultimately, our daily lives.
The Belt and Road Initiative has fueled a strong momentum for Chinese fertilizer companies to expand overseas, making it increasingly urgent to align domestic standards with international norms. Bai Youlu, President of the Chinese Society for Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, pointed out that during this process of going global, companies first encounter standardization challenges—both in product specifications and production practices. He also cautioned that the fertilizer industry is highly dependent on energy and resources, and that the state does not encourage large-scale exports of fertilizer products. Therefore, fertilizer firms should prioritize the international dissemination of their technologies rather than simply exporting finished products.
Enabling fertilizers to contribute to human health, the conference also examined the latest research advances in key areas currently shaping the global fertilizer industry.
Li Jun, Director of the Center for Quality Inspection of Microbial Fertilizers and Edible Mushrooms under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, pointed out that soil issues are closely linked to human health, and microorganisms serve as a powerful key. In recent years, the microbial fertilizer industry has grown rapidly, with its scale more than doubling compared to five years ago. Notably, since 2018, soil‑remediation microbial agents have also been registered for the first time with the Ministry. Li Jun stated that in the future, standards for the safety assessment of microbial strains and for environmental release evaluations will be established, ensuring the safe production and use of microbial fertilizers. At the same time, through collaboration with ISO, efforts will be made to elevate key standards to the international level.
Michael Hojjatie, a member of the working group and an expert with ISO/TC 134—Standardization of Fertilizers, Soil Conditioners, and Beneficial Substances—presented the technical principles and standard‑setting process for liquid slow‑release nitrogen fertilizers. He noted that in the United States and the European Union, an increasing number of policies are calling for reduced nitrogen fertilizer use to protect air quality, water resources, and soil, and that liquid slow‑release nitrogen fertilizers, by significantly improving nutrient use efficiency, are enjoying ever‑wider adoption.
Xu Hengying, a researcher and doctoral supervisor at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has emphasized the importance of replenishing essential mineral nutrients in the soil. He noted that recent studies have revealed alarming losses of these vital minerals in agricultural fields: sulfur losses reach 90%, zinc losses stand at 80%, and losses of copper and calcium exceed 80%. Such depletion of soil mineral elements deprives crops of the enzymes necessary for their growth, leading not only to reduced yields but also serving as a major underlying cause of numerous human health issues, particularly chronic diseases.
In addition, Benoit Planques, Chair of the CEN/TC 455 Technical Committee on Biostimulants of the European Committee for Standardization, presented an overview of the current state of biostimulants in Europe and the ongoing standard‑setting efforts. Meanwhile, Wei Dan, leader of the National Key Area Innovation Team for Black Soil and Chief Expert at the Institute of Plant Nutrition of the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, introduced a novel approach: drawing inspiration from the structure of the black soil’s arable layer to develop an artificial sponge‑like soil that enhances water retention and purification, offering a fresh and promising solution.
Reimagining the industry with health as the guiding principle has resonated deeply with many leading domestic enterprises. Liu Xiaoxia, Vice President of Yuntu Holdings, notes that in the past, fertilizer companies focused primarily on boosting grain yields, but the shift toward prioritizing human health represents a forward‑looking vision that will undoubtedly elevate the entire sector. She calls for greater clarity in a market currently marred by disorder: while numerous key players have pivoted to developing innovative fertilizers, lax regulatory oversight has allowed counterfeit and substandard products to proliferate. She advocates establishing stringent standards and regulations, strengthening inspections by enforcement agencies, and, above all, rigorously enforcing the national standard for fertilizer packaging and labeling.
Li Xia, Deputy General Manager of Silter Fertilizer Industry, also stated in her address that fertilizers are the foundation of the life chain. Silter has consistently been committed to leading the industry through standards, striving to establish itself as China’s premier eco‑friendly fertilizer brand, and vigorously promoting the healthy, safe, and green development of the fertilizer sector.
The conference also featured an on-site dialogue, during which participants engaged in lively discussions on topics such as advancing the internationalization of fertilizer standards, guiding fertilizer development with a health‑oriented approach, and addressing the public’s tendency to view fertilizers with undue apprehension.
