Fertilizer development is a crucial aspect of agricultural advancement, especially in regions with specific environmental and production characteristics. Research into new fertilizer types has become a key focus, including those that improve water use efficiency, enhance nutrient uptake, improve soil structure, and support the unique needs of high-quality crop varieties. Additionally, fertilizers that increase resistance to lodging, control weeds, repel pests, provide organic nutrients, and serve as effective fertilizing materials are being developed to meet modern agricultural demands.
China’s new fertilizer strategy emphasizes improving efficiency rather than increasing volume. By 2030, it's projected that China will need 68 million tons of chemical fertilizers annually. This demand comes with significant economic and environmental costs, making it unsustainable to maintain current levels of application. Instead, the focus should be on reducing fertilizer use while maintaining or even enhancing productivity. The goal is to control total fertilizer supply within 50 million tons, promoting the development of new, efficient fertilizers without a substantial increase in chemical inputs.
Key areas for innovation include controlled-release fertilizers, microbial fertilizers, commercial organic fertilizers, and multifunctional fertilizers. These technologies represent the future of sustainable agriculture. However, China still faces challenges such as weak basic research, limited breakthroughs in core technologies, and underdeveloped industrial platforms. Strengthening research, improving production processes, and building strong industrialization platforms are essential steps toward achieving these goals.
Controlled-release fertilizers, for example, require advancements in material innovation, process technology, and quality standards. While progress has been made, there is still a gap compared to global leaders. Similarly, microbial fertilizers face issues with basic research, product standardization, and market regulation. Commercial organic fertilizers also need improvements in rapid fermentation technologies and industrial-scale production.
Looking ahead, the focus should be on solving technical bottlenecks, enhancing industrialization capabilities, and ensuring that new fertilizers are affordable and widely accepted by farmers. Policy support, increased investment, and collaboration between researchers, industries, and policymakers are vital for the successful development and adoption of next-generation fertilizers. By doing so, China can ensure food security while protecting its environment and promoting sustainable agricultural growth.
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