OCP Group SA, Casablanca, and China’s Hubei Forbon Group, a company specializing in fertilizer additives, have signed a framework agreement to establish a global partnership in the new generation of fertilizers. Both partners are also discussing the creation of a joint R&D center in China.
“This partnership will allow both companies to combine their expertise and know-how to develop a new generation of high added-value fertilizers such as biostimulants, slow/controlled-release fertilizers, sulfur fertilizers, fertilizers with micronutrients, microbial fertilizers, water-soluble fertilizers, etc.,” said OCP.
The group added that one of the targets is to implement innovative solutions that meet the needs of the market and farmers by providing custom solutions and formulations of fertilizers designed to be efficient and eco-friendly.
The proposed joint R&D center will be dedicated to innovation and will address subjects directly related to challenges that OCP faces in the areas of fertilizers and agriculture, and particularly the development of specific and integrated smart agriculture solutions, it said.
OCP described the partnership with Forbon as in line with the “Open Innovation Initiative” the Moroccan group launched to accelerate its ambition to become the world leader in agricultural integrated solutions, and reflects its aim to strengthen its collaboration with “world class” industrials.
“As part of our Open Innovation Initiative, we rely on an innovative ecosystem through the expertise of the best leaders in our areas of interest in order to build up co-development partnerships,” said OCP Group Executive Vice President of Industrial Operations Iliass El Fali. “Forben is a world leader in coating for fertilizers and new products for smart agriculture, and this partnership will allow us to combine our two companies’ expertise to develop new products and improve our offer in fertilizers.”
He added that it was also an opportunity to access the “very dynamic ecosystem” that the Chinese innovation represents.