As the fertilizer industry enters a competitive cycle, maintaining long-term growth depends not only on operational optimization but also on investing in core competencies, a company representative said. For years, Ca Mau Petroleum Fertilizer Joint Stock Company (PVCFC) has made research and development (R&D) a central pillar of its overall strategy.

Perspective of the Thanh Hoa High-Tech Agricultural Production Technology Research, Application, and Transfer Center project. Photo: PVCFC

Perspective of the Thanh Hoa High-Tech Agricultural Production Technology Research, Application, and Transfer Center project. Photo: PVCFC

PVCFC's research and development center is highly regarded for connecting research with production realities and farmers' needs. Thanks to this approach, the company has launched various products: Dam Ca Mau, N46.Plus, Urea BiO, NPK Ca Mau, and specialized product lines, expanding its market share domestically and internationally. Many products have achieved global quality certifications, helping PVCFC build a brand image associated with high standards and practical effectiveness.

The center's team comprises over 40 highly skilled and dedicated research staff who continuously develop new products. The team works with the spirit of "Passion - Creativity - Dedication" for the company's and the agricultural sector's development.

PVCFC invests in equipment, establishing specialized laboratories for soil analysis, crops, microbiology, physical chemistry, biochemistry, and pilot production trials. The company also has a system of fertilizer testing stations across provinces: Ca Mau, Can Tho, TP HCM, Tay Ninh, and Lam Dong. These stations ensure professional, methodical, and rapid product evaluation with strict procedural standards, from laboratory to field scale, controlling the quality of new products.

According to a company representative, the research and development center contributes to increased reliability, ensuring new products consistently earn farmers' trust.

The research team in R&D, one of the company's prioritized strategic areas. Photo: PVCFC

The research team in R&D, one of the company's prioritized strategic areas. Photo: PVCFC

Continuous investment strategy

Unlike companies that only focus on R&D when new products are needed, PVCFC has chosen a sustainable path: continuous, in-depth, and methodical investment in research. The company's research and development center receives significant investment in high-quality human resources and practical, specialized research.

To systematically guide R&D activities, following PVCFC's development strategy, the board of directors issued a new product research and development strategy for the period 2021-2035, with a vision to 2045. The focus is on enhancing the effectiveness of Urea and NPK product lines, creating specialized products "unique to Ca Mau Fertilizer" with outstanding quality and efficiency.

The company also actively collaborates with major agricultural research institutes, universities, and units to enhance testing capabilities, thereby shortening the R&D - testing - commercialization cycle. To date, the company maintains partnerships with nearly 20 domestic institutes, universities, and partners, and 6 international partners.

These partnerships play a vital role in guiding research and applying new product development in line with market trends.

Analysts note that in the fertilizer industry, which is susceptible to fluctuations in raw material prices and weather, mastering technology and shortening product launch times are crucial for survival.

Company leaders believe PVCFC has a significant advantage and is demonstrating this capability. In addition, the company is also focusing on expanding its business lines and production areas in a methodical and assured manner, while maintaining a "Pioneering with the criteria of faster - more sustainable" approach.

The unit's experiments with new technologies on crops. Photo: PVCFC

The unit's experiments with new technologies on crops. Photo: PVCFC

PVCFC has begun research in biotechnology and agricultural product processing for export. The company aims to participate in a closed value chain of the agricultural sector, from crop variety selection, establishing growing areas, harvesting, preliminary processing and preservation, to domestic distribution or export. PVCFC continues to distribute agricultural products in the domestic market or for export, while developing logistics and food and beverage processing. The company also researches further processing for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

This direction opens up new growth potential and creates momentum for PVCFC to expand its scale in the future.

R&D linked to ESG

Research activities at PVCFC are also closely tied to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. New product lines prioritize environmental friendliness, improving soil fertility, saving water, and reducing emissions.

PVCFC aims to research to innovate and improve product quality. The company also expands its production and business areas, linking them to environmental protection, the community, farmers, and sustainable, green agriculture. R&D efforts focus on helping farmers reduce fertilizer usage and increase productivity with the N.46Plus product.

In addition, PVCFC researches soil improvement solutions, creates microbial systems, and helps crops enhance their resilience to harsh conditions. Some typical products are Ure BiO and microbial preparations.

Through research and evaluation, the company develops nutritional and cultivation solutions for each type of crop. These solutions help optimize costs, reduce fertilizer use, and limit adverse impacts on soil and water resources.

According to PVCFC's leaders, linking the R&D strategy with sustainable development helps the company meet export market requirements, creates new growth opportunities, and aims towards "green agriculture - sustainable agriculture."

New growth cycle

After a period of accelerated growth thanks to its core products and digital transformation in management, PVCFC continues to expand its potential through its R&D pillar. Recently, the company was honored at the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard 2024 in Malaysia, recognized in the good governance group with criteria of transparency, social responsibility, and ESG practices.

According to experts, as ESG factors are increasingly prioritized in business evaluations, companies with sustainable R&D strategies like PVCFC will benefit from the upcoming investment wave.

According to PVCFC's leaders, the company focuses on listening to feedback from the market, customers, partners, and farmers to guide research and innovation activities. The company focuses on improving product quality while expanding its production and business areas to meet diverse needs and strengthen customer loyalty.

PVCFC's development strategy is based on the principle of harmonizing the interests of the business, customers, and the environment, linked to the goal of green and sustainable agriculture. With this orientation, the company continues to strive to affirm its position in the fertilizer industry while gradually expanding its presence and integrating more deeply into the global value chain.

Hoang Dan