Summary of the 2019 World Phosphatic Fertilizers and Compound Fertilizers Industry Development Conference

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Summary of the 2019 World Phosphatic Fertilizers and Compound Fertilizers Industry Development Conference Author/Source: Sinochem New Network Date: 2019-09-19 Clicks: 54 From August 28 to 29, 2019, the “2019 World Phosphatic Fertilizers and Compound Fertilizers Industry Development Conference” (hereinafter referred to as the “International Conference”), organized by the China Phosphatic Fertilizers and Compound Fertilizers Industry Association, was successfully held in Beijing. 　　Fertilizers are important agricultural inputs. Over the years, significant progress has been made in the production technologies and equipment used in the global fertilizer industry, which has made a substantial contribution to ensuring global food security. Entering the 21st century, humanity has stepped into a new historical phase, with harmonious coexistence between humans and nature becoming the theme of this new era. Environmental protection, energy conservation and emission reduction, resource recycling, and supporting the sustainable development of ecological agriculture have become new challenges faced by the global fertilizer industry. As the world’s largest producer and consumer of fertilizers, China is not yet a powerhouse in this field. It too faces global challenges and difficulties, and therefore needs to work together with its international counterparts, pool global wisdom, share experiences and lessons learned from development processes, and jointly explore ways and methods to solve these problems. 　　Based on this, this conference was established. With the theme of \"Innovation, Coordination, Greenness, and Sharing,\" it facilitates exchanges in four areas: sustainable development, agricultural needs, free trade, and the green development of the industry, in order to explore ideas and directions for future progress. The conference received extensive attention and strong support from international organizations such as FAO and IFA, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, the Petrochemical Federation, the National Agricultural Technology Extension Center, leading domestic and foreign manufacturers, universities and research institutions, industry associations, entities involved in the industrial chain, and the media. Representatives from over 20 **, 2 international organizations, and more than 300 Chinese and foreign participants attended the event for exchanges. 　　The world still faces hunger and food security crises, and the role of fertilizers is irreplaceable. The advent of chemical fertilizers was a significant achievement of the industrial revolution in the 20th century, and they have helped feed 50% of the world’s population. Especially in China, where the food needs of 1.3 billion people were met, fertilizers contributed up to 92% to increased crop yields in the 1970s. However, in recent years, due to an increasing population, climate change, and uncontrollable environmental factors, global food security has deteriorated. According to FAO experts, the number of people suffering from hunger is on the rise; in 2017, 812 million people around the world were facing hunger, and food security remains a looming threat across the globe. 　　In recent years, as humanity has grown more concerned about the ecological environment, coupled with the excessive and improper use of chemical fertilizers, their effectiveness has come under scrutiny, and society holds negative views toward them. At the conference, experts from organizations such as the FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, the China Petrochemical Federation, the Chinese Society of Cooperative Economics, Wageningen University, the University of California, and the University of São Paulo highly praised the role of fertilizers. Zhou Zhuye, vice president of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation and president of the China Phosphorus Fertilizer Industry Association, said that fertilizers have made a significant historical contribution to China’s food security. In the long term, they will remain the main means of meeting the needs of agricultural production, and their role is irreplaceable. Zineb Bazza from the FAO stated that in order to address the global hunger crisis and environmental uncertainties, the International Code of Practice on the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers will be used to guide and promote the production and rational use of fertilizers. Academician Zhang Fusuo of the Chinese Academy of Engineering said that fertilizers are not harmful in themselves; the harm arises from their improper use. In addition to increasing crop yields, fertilizers also serve to improve the ecological environment, reduce soil erosion, enhance soil fertility, and increase biodiversity, offering immense ecological benefits as well. Fertilizers and the fertilizer industry are essential and need to be further developed. Through this conference, experts from various countries provided a systematic and accurate overview of the role and social function of fertilizers. It not only dispelled misconceptions in society but also helped to maintain and enhance the positive reputation of the fertilizer industry and its companies, thereby securing a favorable environment for the industry’s development through public opinion and the dissemination of correct values. 　　Fertilizers need to meet the requirements of agricultural development, moving toward sustainable development that features reduced use, higher efficiency, greater intelligence, and harmony with the environment. In addition to highlighting the important role of fertilizers in human survival and development, this conference also provided a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the problems existing in the industry as well as the challenges it faces. For example, the contradiction between production and the environment, the contradiction between demand and supply, the contradiction between agriculture and industry, and so on. The current fertilizer industry indeed faces issues such as excessive use of nutrients, a mismatch between industrial products and agricultural needs, inadequate agrochemical services, failure to make full use of associated resources, and deficiencies in safety and environmental protection. At the conference, top experts in plant nutrition and fertilizers from countries such as China, Israel, the Netherlands, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, along with executives from leading manufacturing companies, shared their experiences and practices regarding the green production, management, distribution, and recycling of fertilizers, as well as successful cases and lessons learned in global nutrient management and the coordinated development of agriculture and resources and the environment, from both production and application perspectives. 　　Experts attending the meeting said that agriculture has now shifted toward cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and green, high-quality development. The future focus of fertilizer use will be on green consumption; efforts will be made to adjust the industrial and product structures, reduce the intensity of resource exploitation, decrease the use of inputs in various stages, and minimize pollution generation. This will push the fertilizer industry toward sustainable development that features reduced usage, higher efficiency, greater intelligence, and harmony with the environment. Based on sustainable goals, international leading companies such as YARA, BASF, OCP, EuroChem, Qinghai Salt Lake, and Stanley shared their insights and practices in areas such as comprehensive resource utilization, product innovation and upgrading, business operations and sales, agrochemical promotion, and corporate strategy. Companies like Mosaic, Wuhuan Project, and Guizhou Phosphorus Chemical Group presented their experiences in SHE management within production processes, improvements to the wet phosphoric acid production process, and the recycling of fluorine from associated resources, thereby guiding the development of this process toward a greener direction characterized by higher phosphorus recovery rates, higher phosphoric acid concentrations, better quality, reduced phosphorus content and impurities in phosphogypsum, and more efficient utilization of associated resources. In addition, Academician Zhao Chunjiang of the Chinese Academy of Engineering attended the meeting and pointed out that intelligent high-tech methods such as the Internet of Things, big data, and informatization can be utilized to support the sustainable development of the industry, the transition between old and new driving forces, and the improvement of efficiency. 　　The treatment of phosphogypsum has become a critical obstacle that hinders the survival and development of this industry, with China leading the way in finding innovative solutions. As an industrial by-product of wet-process phosphoric acid, the global annual production of phosphogypsum exceeds 300 million tons, yet its overall utilization rate is only 25%. The safe storage of phosphogypsum and its use in high-value applications represent bottlenecks that impede the sustainable development of the global phosphate chemical industry and fertilizer production. A special session on phosphogypsum was arranged at this conference to exchange global experiences and practices. 　　Dr. Julian Hilton, head of the Aleff Group, delivered a special presentation on the experience in the comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum worldwide, as well as related policies and future development directions. He pointed out that phosphogypsum should not be regarded as \"industrial waste\", but rather as a by-product of phosphate production. In his report, he also outlined that the international policy trend is to use and ultimately \"comprehensively utilize\" phosphogypsum, developing it as a \"by-product,\" \"secondary resource,\" and \"reusable material.\" The Belgian company PRAYON introduced advanced processes that utilize big data analysis to improve the quality of phosphoric acid and the quality of phosphogypsum. Yang Zaiyin, Secretary-General of the Gypsum Building Materials Branch of the China Building Materials Federation, introduced the current development status of China’s gypsum industry, the progress made in the comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum, its main application areas, and future development trends. In recent years, thanks to China’s unprecedentedly strict environmental protection regulations and oversight, the country has taken a leading position globally in the purification of phosphogypsum, the development of standard systems, as well as innovative applications for this material. China’s consumption and utilization rate of phosphogypsum have been increasing steadily, with various applications emerging such as cement retarders, gypsum boards, gypsum-based building materials, and materials used for road filling. By 2018, the comprehensive utilization rate of phosphogypsum had reached 39.7%, far exceeding the world average, demonstrating China’s commitment and wisdom in environmental management on the global stage. 　　Free trade and interconnected sharing facilitate the allocation of resources and improve the efficiency of industrial chains, serving as a catalyst for industry development. The world today is undergoing changes on a scale not seen in a century; new waves of technological and industrial revolutions are generating continuous momentum, leading to new transformations in the global economic and trade landscape as well as in the energy sector. Meanwhile, economic globalization has faced setbacks; world economic growth remains weak, international situations are characterized by significant instability, and trade protectionism is on the rise. Facing profound and significant changes, what will be the future of the global fertilizer market? At the conference, the IFA Secretary-General presented an outlook for the international fertilizer market in the medium term. Ms. Charlotte said that, given the slowdown in global economic growth, trade restrictions, and increasing emphasis on environmental protection, fertilizer demand is expected to remain stable in the medium term; however, in the long run, fertilizer demand is likely to decline. Nevertheless, China continues to play an important role in the international fertilizer market. Reputable analysis firms Fertecon and CRU have analyzed the changes in raw material and energy markets and their impact on the fertilizer industry; geopolitics and macroeconomics have increased the uncertainty surrounding fertilizer costs. The report also analyzes and interprets the demand for planting and fertilizers in the key regions of India, Brazil, and the African continent. Rakesh Kapur, former CEO of IFA and General Manager of IFFCO in India, said that there will be significant changes in the way fertilizers are applied and produced in India. By using special types of fertilizers, increasing domestic production, and regulating the sale of fertilizers, it is possible to reduce fertilizer usage and the need for imports. Brazil’s farming sector is highly dependent on fertilizer imports, and Professor Paulo Sergio Pavinato from the University of São Paulo predicts that fertilizer use in Brazil will increase at the same rate over the next decade. By 2030, Brazil’s overall fertilizer use could reach 46 million tons. Africa is considered to be the region with the greatest potential for fertilizer use worldwide. Mr. Luc Maene, former Secretary-General of IFA and former president of the International Fertilizer Association, said that Africa is on the path toward a green revolution; it is expected that demand for fertilizers in Africa will grow at a rate of 5% per year by 2022, with sub-Saharan Africa being the driving force behind this growth in demand. 　　Technology drives progress in human society, while free trade and interconnected sharing facilitate the flow of various elements such as resources, talent, technology, products, and capital on a global scale, thereby enhancing the efficiency of global supply chains and fostering mutual benefit. As a major producer and trader of fertilizers, China will continue to actively participate in global competition and cooperation, uphold market-oriented and free trade, and promote the development and progress of the industry. 　　The consensus on green development reached at the conference will have a profound impact on the industry. Thanks to the careful organization by the conference committee and the active participation of all delegates, each of the themed presentations was characterized by an exchange of ideas, a blend of wisdom, and full attendance. In addition to receiving high praise for its content and organization, the conference also enhanced understanding and mutual trust among industries around the world, helped build consensus, and promoted cooperative development. 　　At the conference, participants reached a broad consensus on promoting the green development of industries on a global scale, advancing resource recycling, fostering coordinated development between resources, the environment, and agriculture, and ensuring a harmonious balance among social, economic, and ecological benefits. They issued the \"Green Development Declaration\" for the phosphate fertilizer industry, titled \"Protecting Fertile Lands and Promoting Agricultural Development,\" calling on all enterprises in this sector to adopt the concept of green development and implement green production methods; to use technological and product innovation as the core drivers of green development; to pursue innovation in agricultural services in order to enhance the quality of green development; and to pursue joint and coordinated industrial development guided by the principles of green development. This declaration received unanimous support from all participating organizations and representatives, providing a roadmap for the future development of the industry. 　　“The “2019 World Phosphate and Compound Fertilizer Industry Development Conference” serves as an illustration of China’s stance on the green development of the fertilizer industry, as well as the coordinated development of fertilizers, agriculture, and the environment and resources. It is a grand event for international exchanges and global cooperation, as well as a significant platform for showcasing the industry’s image and China’s craftsmanship spirit. What the conference leaves us with is not only moments of brilliance, but also wonderful memories and precious spiritual wealth. Looking to the future, professionals in the global fertilizer industry will uphold the banner of green development, continuing to contribute their wisdom and efforts to ensure food security for all of humanity and meet the growing demands for a better quality of life.