World Fertilizer Congress underway in Shenyang

The 17th World Fertilizer Congress opened in Shenyang, Northeast China’s Liaoning province, on Sept 4.

Hosted by the International Scientific Center of Fertilizers and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and organized by the Institute of Applied Ecology of CAS, Federal Agricultural Research Center of Germany, and Shenyang Association for Science and Technology, the congress will run until Sept 7.

More than 800 people, including experts and representatives from companies, colleges and research institutes, are taking part in the event. They are from more than 20 countries and regions including Germany, the United States, and Australia.

With a focus on the future of the fertilizer industry, the congress will hold nine parallel sessions, with topics covering areas such as stabilized fertilizer and the fertilizer conversion process, fertilization and the environment, soil nutrient management and fertilization, and bio-organic fertilizer.

Experts attending the conference are expected to give reports on the latest developments and trends in the fields of fertilizer research and application, while the congress is also expected to provide plenty of opportunities for lively discussion and debate between experts on issues such as fertilizers and fertilization techniques that restrict agricultural production.

Statistics from 2016 reveal that China's consumption of nitrogen fertilizer reached 44.59 million tons, making it the world's largest producer and consumer of nitrogen fertilizer.

Nitrogen fertilizer plays an important role in increasing grain production and food security, but the utilization rate in China is only 25 to 35 percent –– 15 to 30 percent lower than in Europe and North America.

Zhang Yaping, vice-president of the CAS, said at the meeting that the main reason for the low utilization rate is that fertilizer is lost through various channels after being applied to the soil, with the potential for causing serious ecological and environmental problems.

Therefore, improving the utilization rate of fertilizers and strengthening research on fertilizer science and technology are the top priority for China's agricultural and fertilizer industry, and development of advanced fertilizer production technology and high-efficiency fertilizer utilization conversion is getting more attention in the country, added Zhang.

In addition, a 3,000-square-meter display area is on show at the event, highlighting new achievements and products in the fertilizer industry.

The 17th World Fertilizer Congress opens in Shenyang, Liaoning province, Sept 4. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Attendees listen to a report during the congress in Shenyang, Liaoning province, Sept 4. [Photo/Chinanews.com]