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In the world of agriculture, the quest for efficient and sustainable farming practices has always been at the forefront. Fertilizers, as an integral part of modern agriculture, have undergone significant advancements over the years, and one such innovation is the use of granulation binders. This remarkable development has transformed the way we approach fertilization, making it not only more efficient but also more environmentally friendly. Granulation binders, also known as binding agents, are essential for turning loose fertilizers into granules. The advantages of granules include improved handling, controlled nutrient release, uniformity, reduced runoff, customization, and long-term soil health. These benefits enhance crop yields and promote sustainable farming practices. Enhanced Nutrient

Humic and Fulvic acids are the final break-down constituents of the natural decay of plant and animal materials. These organic acids are found in pre-historic deposits. Humic matter is formed through the chemical and biological humification of plant and animal matter and through the biological activities of micro-organisms. Humic acids are complex molecules that exist naturally in soils, peats, oceans and fresh waters. The one source of humic acids are the sedimentation layers referred to as Leonardite. These layers were originally deep in the earth’s crust, but over many years have been exhumed to near-surface location. Humic acids are found in high concentration in these layers. Leonardite is organic matter,

Updates in Mining & Minerals Canada Grants Nunavut Control Over Mineral Resources The Arctic territory of Nunavut was granted control over its mineral resources by the Canadian government in a devolution that has been years in the making. The territory, rich in critical minerals and other resources, will now be able to collect royalties that would otherwise have gone to the federal government. Despite challenges in the region, the move could help to bolster exploration and development, according to Reuters. Future of Wyoming’s Trona Industry Uncertain All eyes in the soda ash industry continue to be on the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP), public comment

The scale of the current global hunger and malnutrition crisis is enormous. A total of 1.9 million people are in the grips of catastrophic hunger – primarily in Gaza and Sudan but also in pockets of South Sudan, Haiti and Mali. They are teetering on the brink of famine. In Zamzam camp in northern Sudan, famine has been confirmed. Many food crises involve multiple overlapping issues that are building year on year. What are the main causes of the global food crisis? Conflict A total 65 percent of the 343 million people facing acute hunger are in fragile or conflict-hit countries. Violence and instability in the Middle East, East, Central

Updates in Mining Chinese Copper Smelters to Lower Output Chinese copper smelters are expected to reduce production or extend maintenance in 2025 to cope with a major shortage of copper concentrate, according to Mining Weekly. The anticipated one million metric ton shortage is the result of global mine disruptions and rising smelter capacity and could see China’s copper smelting to drop to as low as 75% usage capacity. Critical Mineral Shortages Stifling Energy Transition Challenges in getting critical minerals are putting the global energy transition at risk according to new research from GlobalData. Mineral depletion, resource distribution, geopolitical tensions, and other factors are creating roadblocks in the face of unprecedented demand

Be it for a fertilizer or soil amendment product, the granulation process (and the many configurations thereof) requires a delicate balance of variables in order to economically produce a product that meets the desired qualities. Depending on the feedstock, the end product, and the process used, these factors can vary significantly. For this reason, testing is often an essential step in the development of a process for producing a granular soil amendment or fertilizer product. However, there are a few overarching themes that play into the success of any granulation operation, no matter what the product. These are outlined here. MEASURING GRANULATION SUCCESS It’s important to recognize that the “success”

Overview of dry granulation technology Technical principle Dry granulation is a process of directly pressing dry organic materials into granules by physical extrusion, compression, etc. No wetting agent or binder is required, and the original nutrients and physical properties of the materials are retained. Process characteristics High cost-effectiveness: The dry granulation process is simple, energy-saving, and no additional drying steps are required, thereby reducing production costs. Good nutrient retention: Since no wetting agent is required, dry granulation can effectively retain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in organic materials, making fertilizers easier for plants to absorb and utilize. Strong stability: The granules made by the dry method have high

Fertilizer granulation has long played an important role in helping growers to maximize their yields while improving nutrient handling and application, but with precision agriculture’s growing adoption, granular fertilizers have become more important than ever. What is Precision Agriculture? Precision agriculture, or ‘precision farming’, combines innovations in geolocation technology with recognized best management practices in crop production to deliver site-specific, optimized crop nutrition, based on the identification and analysis of in-field variability. As such, it is an essential technique in meeting global food demand amidst ongoing challenges in agriculture. The underlying principle behind precision agriculture is that variability naturally occurs within fields. Therefore, applying the proper inputs in the right place,

This is part of a special series based on the April 2024 edition of the Commodity Markets Outlook, a flagship report published by the World Bank. This series features concise summaries of commodity-specific sections extracted from the report. The World Bank’s fertilizer price index remained relatively stable during the second quarter of 2024, following a 20 percent drop in the first quarter. The index is 24 percent lower than it was a year ago, primarily due to a significant decline in phosphate rock prices (-56 percent) and potassium prices (-17 percent). This broad weakness is attributed to improved production prospects driven, for the most part, by lower input costs. In