In September 2016, Huazhong Agricultural University, in collaboration with leading universities, research institutes, and key enterprises in the industry, established the China Trace and Secondary Nutrients Fertilizer Industry and Research Innovation Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the Alliance). Guided by the mission of "establishing an alliance, raising a banner, and serving an industry," the Alliance has focused on in-depth research into the micro-level mechanisms and macro-level management of trace and secondary nutrients. It has strengthened the collaboration among academia, research, industry, promoted the transformation of research outcomes, and facilitated technological upgrades to drive the development and prosperity of the industry, and obtained widespread recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the general public.

In 2024, the Alliance approved the proposal submitted by the International Magnesium Institute (IMI) and Shenzhen K+S Trading Co.,Ltd., titled “Establishment of the Magnesium Fertilizer Committee under the China Trace and Secondary Nutrients Fertilizer Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Alliance. The establishment of the Magnesium Fertilizer Committee under the Alliance aims to pool resources to drive breakthrough developments in magnesium's role in both fertilizer production and end-use applications. This initiative seeks to implement scientific formulation and balanced fertilization practices, thereby contributing to the advancement of green agriculture and supporting the Healthy China strategy.

On August 3, 2024, the Magnesium Fertilizer Committee was officially established at the 8th National Symposium on Key Technologies for Crop Trace Element Nutrition and Fertilizer Application and the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Trace and Secondary Nutrients Fertilizer Innovation Alliance, held in Hefei, Anhui.

The event was attended by over 200 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Chinese Society of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Science, the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Division of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, leading domestic compound fertilizer and magnesium-containing fertilizer manufacturers, professors and experts from agricultural universities, IMI, and the National Magnesium Cooperation Network. Together, they witnessed the establishment of the Magnesium Fertilizer Committee. The alliance appointed Professor Chunjian Li, Executive Deputy Director of the International Magnesium Institute, as the chairman of the academic committee of the Magnesium Fertilizer Committee. Dr. Hong Wang, a researcher at the Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was appointed as the deputy chairman. Additionally, 58 expert professors, including Xiaojun Shi, were appointed as members of the Academic Committee.

The alliance has confirmed the selection of the inaugural 23-member organization of the Magnesium Fertilizer Committee, including Angel Yeast Co., LTD., and Henan Xinlianxin Chemical Industry Group Co., LTD.

Professor Chunjian Li, executive deputy director of the International Magnesium Institute, delivered a report titled "National Magnesium Nutrition Research and Industrialization Insights." He emphasized that China's current magnesium application accounts for only about 5% of the actual demand. Given that compound fertilizer consumption accounts for more than 80% of the total fertilizer consumption in the country, he urged compound fertilizer enterprises to optimize the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium formulations. Specifically, he recommended reducing the excessive supply of phosphorus and increasing magnesium content by 1-2% in the formulation to enhance the magnesium supply at source. This adjustment aims to promote high-quality agricultural development and increase farmers' incomes.

Then，experts and researchers from NMN, magnesium fertilizer production, and its promotion delivered reports one after another.

"Magnesium is the fourth element of future fertilizers," industry experts predict, underscoring its critical importance for crops. From a scientific perspective, magnesium is an essential nutrient element for plant growth and a vital mineral for humans. In the human body, magnesium plays a key role in stabilizing nucleic acid structures, activating enzymes, suppressing neural excitability, and participating in protein synthesis and muscle contraction. In agricultural production, it is particularly important to prioritize the effective and reasonable application of magnesium fertilizers in magnesia-deficient regions. By enhancing crop magnesium content through biofortification strategies, we can improve the magnesium nutrition level of the human body and contribute to the “Healthy China” initiatives.

The establishment of the Magnesium Fertilizer Committee marked a significant milestone in the high-quality development of China's magnesium fertilizer industry. It serves as a vital platform for disseminating national policies and understanding the spirit of scientific fertilization, as well as uniting stakeholders. The committee plays a crucial role in building awareness, achieving consensus, enhancing collaboration, and advancing the development, production, and application of magnesium-based products, including magnesium compound fertilizers.

Through the pioneering efforts and demonstration effects of member organizations within the committee, it is hoped to drive the fertilizer industry toward incorporating magnesium. This approach aims to promote scientific formulations, embed advanced technologies into fertilizers, and produce formula fertilizers adapted to the current soil characteristics and crop needs. By addressing balanced fertilization and its source, this initiative seeks to enable large-scale application of this fundamental fertilization technique, contributing to high-quality and sustainable agricultural development in the new era.