The development of new types of fertilizers is crucial for sustainable agricultural growth, especially in regions with specific environmental and climatic conditions. Research focuses on enhancing water use efficiency, improving nutrient utilization, optimizing soil structure, and developing specialized fertilizers tailored to high-quality crop varieties. These include fertilizers that enhance plant lodging resistance, control weeds, resist pests, and promote organic nutrition. Additionally, water-retaining and slow-release fertilizers are key areas of innovation.
China’s fertilizer industry is undergoing a strategic shift from quantity-driven expansion to quality-focused development. By 2030, the projected demand for chemical fertilizers is expected to reach 68 million tons, posing significant economic and environmental challenges. The country must prioritize efficiency improvements rather than increasing overall fertilizer application. The goal is to maintain fertilizer supply at around 50 million tons while promoting new fertilizer technologies that reduce environmental impact and improve productivity.
Key areas of research and development include controlled-release fertilizers, microbial fertilizers, commercial organic fertilizers, and multifunctional fertilizers. However, China faces several challenges, including weak basic research, limited breakthroughs in material science, and underdeveloped industrial platforms. For example, slow-release fertilizers still suffer from high costs, low production efficiency, and inadequate quality standards. Similarly, microbial fertilizers require stronger foundational research, better strain development, and improved production processes.
To address these issues, China has outlined a multi-year plan focusing on technological innovation, industrialization, and market development. The "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" aims to build industrial platforms, while the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" seeks full-scale adoption by farmers. In the next five to ten years, efforts will be directed toward advanced fermentation techniques, quality control systems, and the development of new microbial and organic products.
Policy support is essential for the success of this transformation. Recommendations include increased investment in R&D, preferential policies for the fertilizer industry, and the establishment of national research centers. These steps will help ensure the long-term sustainability of agriculture and food security in China.
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