PPC ADOB: Innovative player in global micronutrient fertilizer and inorganic chemicals industry

Q: What is ADOB's mission?

ADOB since its foundation in 1990 by Adam Nawrocki has focused on the production of micronutrients fertilizers, inorganic chemicals, international trading of fertilizers and raw materials. ADOB’s mission are: Power of science, Always DO Better. Agriculture should be based only on best quality, verified fertilizers to have high yields with its good quality.

Q:  what important milestones have been made by ADOB in the past 20 years? 

From very beginning ADOB was focused on international business and implementing new products. First fertilizers delivery was in 1990 to Saudi Arabia. Production of foliar fertilizers according to BASF license from 1991 was a milestone of business. ADOB’s expansion of international business accelerated in 2002 with biodegradable IDHA chelates production start up. Chelates are produced in micro granulation process as unique spray drying technology. Business accelerated again in 2004 with trade agreement with YARA due to calcium nitrate produced on technology patented by ADOB. Later on we had as well agreements on this calcium nitrate with SQM and ICL respectively. Next acceleration was in 2012 when Fe HBED chelate production started.

Q: Can you briefly introduce the R & D platform of ADOB?

In R&D department there is a group of young people trying to develop our products and creating new innovative ones. We made many field and laboratory trials by us and in scientific institutions. On basis of experience from experiments we can supply products together with usage recommendations. PPC ADOB in Poland employs about 250 employees, including 20 in R&D department. Company cooperates with representative offices and joint venture partners (as ADOB Qingdao) in various countries worldwide.

Q: Can you briefly introduce product series of ADOB?

Our products mainly made by two plants, one is Poznan plant. The product lines mainly cover all kinds of chelates (IDHA, HBED, EDTA, DTPA), water soluble NPK, foliar fertilizers (Basfoliar / Azosol), liquid nitrates and multicompound liquids as well as liquid fertilizers for row application during sowing seeds. The other is Wroclaw plant. This plant mainly produce Calcium nitrate and derivatives, Magnesium nitrate and derivatives as well as Magnesium sulphate.

Q: What is the direction of product development in the future?

The words for the future are: efficacy and tailor-made. Presently we develop our technology 2.0. We manufacture liquid products together with tensides. These foliar products have better absorpsion and are much more effective. We develop fertilizers containing elements chelated by IDHA. These IDHA multicomponent fertilizers have different, tailor-made compositions. Such fertilizers are suit for defined crops /soils / climate etc. ADOB provide ready fertilization programs for important crops.

Q: Any cooperation on R&D between ADOB and other multinational companies?

We have joint patent with BAYER regarding biodegradable IDHA chelates. We are member of Harvest Zinc Program. Apart of that ADOB cooperates with scientific institutions to make professional experiments with our products. Many trials for us have been done by: Professor Ismail Cakmac from Sabanci University, Turkey. Professor Juan Lucena, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.

Q: Which stage does global special fertilizer industry belong to?

Global special fertilizer industry belongs to introduction or growth stage depending from country. In technologically developed countries as Europe and North America it is in growth stage, but in the developing countries is in introduction stage.

Q: Can you introduce the trends of global special fertilizer industry over the past 5 years?

Because arable lands are limited so good method increasing yields is sufficient fertilization. Trend of last 5 years of global special fertilizers industry are:

- ecofriendly, biodegradable fertilizers,
- special, dedicated products for crops in defined phases of growth,
- fertilizing programs for crops.

Negative thing is that we also can meet on the market some “magic”, expensive products in beautiful package which you don’t know what is inside.

Q: What are the factors that affect the development of the global special fertilizer industry?

Political-economy situation is always a factor limiting international trade. In last years such difficulties were in trade with Iran Russia, Libia,. Knowledge is both a challenge and an opportunity. Customers who are more aware of technical issues are ready to make better decisions and use special fertilizers.

Q: What are the market performances of Europe, North American, Asia-Pacific region?

Europe and North America are saturated markets. Asia-Pacific region is still developing market and has a big potential for fertilizers sector.

Q:  Which kind of product has the highest growth rate in these years?

In last years growth microelement chelates have about double growth rate of selling in compare to macroelements.

Q: Are there any differences between Chinese market and EU markets?

Chinese population is 1.4 bln people but EU is 0.5 bln people. Almost triple number of people in China compare to EU need much more food from domestic agriculture. This is why China is world’s leader in production of fruits, vegetables and agricultural crops as well. Chinese agriculture needs huge amount of fertilizers to cover plant demands. China is top consumer of NPK fertilizers and other elements. But in my opinion growers need to pay more attention to microelements which are also essential to plant growth and yielding.

Q: Could you brief introduce operation strategies of ADOB in Chinese market? What breakthroughs have been made over the past five years?

Based on agreements with SQM from 1999 our magnesium nitrate and magnesium sulphate and from 2009 as well calcium nitrate are sold on Chinese market. In 2011 ADOB Qingdao joint venture was set up. We sell our products on Chinese market (i.e. chelates, Azosol) by ADOB Qingdao. In 2013 ADOB representative office was set up in Beijing and is responsible for ADOB product registration on Chinese market.

Q: In the next five years, do you think China's sales will bring more profits for ADOB group?

China with its biggest agriculture in the world has greatest market potential. In the next five years, ADOB will continue to carry out strategies for Chinese markets as following aspects: 1) helps feed China population , 2) offers innovative, environmental friendly, high quality, effective products, 3) gives fertilization crop programs related to local soil and climate condition, 4) supports farmers and dealers of the products by technical trainings, 4) takes part in agricultural conferences, exhibitions etc to provide as much information and knowledge as possible, 5) visits selected farms and give recommendations by agronomist.

Q: China is not only a big producer of special fertilizers products, but also a huge market for such products. What makes you think Chinese customers will turn to ADOB's product?

ADOB’s strong points are: 1) unique physical and chemical properties of our products (often patented), 2) product’s highest quality which can be always checked by chemical analysis, 3) differentiation of our offer, 4) chelates contain always chelated 100% elements, 5) flexibility in creating new tailor-made fertilizers.

Q: Can you share some suggestions to guide Chinese users to choose right chelate products?

Because elements in chelates are chelated in 100% grower can be sure that all ADOB’s fertilizer will work. EU law allows to have 80% chelated and 20% not chelated. Such competition’s products are cheaper, because these 20% can be i.e. sulphate and in some conditions (i.e. high pH, high P content) will not be working.

For foliar application we recommend fertilizers with IDHA biodegradable chelates or EDTA chelates. We offer chelated microelements: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and also chelated macroelements: Ca, Mg. Growers who use our chelates can reduce dosage in compare with not chelated elements. This is because elements chelated are better absorbed and more efficient than not chelated. We offer tailor-made compositions of nutrients to suit individual customer/grower requirements.

For growers using Fe chelates we recommend depending from water or soil pH following: pH <6.5 (Fe IDHA or Fe EDTA), pH 6.5-7.5 (Fe DTPA), pH > 7.5 ( Fe HBED). This chelate is very efficient to avoid or correct iron deficiencies.