Rural Development Administration to Ease Liquid Fertilizer Standards to 0.2% in Response to Middle East Fertilizer Supply Instability

Replacing Imported Chemical Fertilizers and Expanding Livestock Manure Recycling
Stable Fertilizer Supply Expected During the Farming Season

As supply chain instability originating in the Middle East spreads to the fertilizer market, the Rural Development Administration has responded by easing standards for livestock manure-based liquid fertilizer.

On April 16, the Rural Development Administration announced that, based on the results of an expert panel meeting, it has prepared a plan to lower the required combined concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in livestock manure fermentation liquid (liquid fertilizer) from the current minimum of 0.3% to 0.2%. The agency also stated that it will submit this proposal to the Fertilizer Expert Committee for review.

This adjustment is a preemptive measure in response to the growing need to stabilize the domestic fertilizer supply chain, triggered by international raw material supply disruptions and maritime logistics issues resulting from the Middle East conflict. In particular, the focus is on partially reducing dependence on imported chemical fertilizers and expanding the production base for liquid fertilizer as an alternative.

The Rural Development Administration expects the relaxed standards to reduce the burden on liquid fertilizer producers and minimize production disruptions. In addition, it anticipates that rationalizing these standards will improve continuity in product manufacturing and contribute to an increase in the volume of livestock manure processed for resource utilization.

The agency plans to further enhance policy effectiveness by conducting quantitative analyses of the impact on stable liquid fertilizer production, supply contributions during the farming season, and improvements in recycling rates.

A representative from the Rural Development Administration stated, "This measure prioritizes the stability of fertilizer supply in the agricultural sector amid the current global supply chain crisis," adding, "We will continue to monitor the situation in the field and consider additional institutional improvements if necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.