Shandong Kangqiao: start again with focusing on the future, innovation and exploration

Shandong Kangqiao continues to adhere to innovation, focus on the innovation road of integration of technical and formulation. Recently, CCPIA interviewed Li Ning, chairman of Kangqiao, and let's know the development and changes of Kangqiao in these ten years.

Q: What are the company's core competencies and strengths?

A: Our core competence is innovation, and advantage is an innovation-led focus on compounds. From the beginning of its establishment, Kangqiao has a very clear direction that we should take the innovation road of the integration of technicals and formulations. We should carry out process innovation and formulation form innovation around the self-owned technicals such as Pyraclostrobin, Spirodiclofen and Thifluzamide, and make nano-formulations, constantly exploring along the route of improving quality, reducing cost and enhancing efficiency.

Q: Innovation is the driving force of enterprise development. What about the company's R&D and innovation? What are the typical achievements of product technology innovation?

A: There are two stages to our R&D and innovation. Before 2017, the innovation of process and formulation was mainly focused on Pyraclostrobin, Spirodiclofen and Thifluzamide. After 2017, the innovation of new compounds was focused on the premise of ensuring the innovative advantages of the original compounds. Up to now, we have set up a resistance control laboratory in Qingdao, a process research center in Boxing, and a molecular engineering research center for medicinal function in Bohai, to layout the product line in the next ten years and ensure the continuous advantage of innovative compounds. In 2020, we had a very exciting harvest in the creation of acaricides. One patent has been published for over a thousand compounds. These innovations gave Kangqiao power for the next decade.

In terms of innovation achievements, I think the Nano-pyraclostrobin has typical significance. First, we found that a new crystal form of Pyraclostrobin is very effective against powdery mildew, and four invention patents have been approved related to Pyraclostrobin. Second, the brand product of Kangqiao, Yingcai(Pyraclostrobin 25% SC), is a typical nano-formulation form product, with nano-size, safer application, and more than 10% higher efficacy than ordinary SC, which is also of great significance. So, “Good Pyraclostrobin products made by Kangqiao" is not just a slogan, but a word of mouth that we actually made it.

Q: Recently, the Liujin(Spirodiclofen 240g/L SC) and Chucui（Thifluzamide 240g/L SC）of Kangqiao has been evaluated as the second batch of green and high-quality pesticide products. Please introduce the advantages and characteristics of the two products.

The Spirodiclofen and Thifluzamide were developed successfully in 2010 and 2014 respectively, and number of patents were arranged around these two compounds for protection. After nearly ten years of continuous innovation and improvement, the two products of Kangqiao are processed by self-owned high purity technicals, with nanometer size and significantly improved efficacy compared with conventional SC.

Q: What areas will your company focus on to maintain steady growth in the variable pesticide market?

A: In my opinion, the abrupt change in the pesticide market in recent years has been a normal situation. The era of blindly competing prices among agrochemical enterprises has come to an end. Whoever can bring stable growth to the distributors will have more rights in the channels.

In terms of how to deal with it, I think we should keep our own advantages and core competitiveness stable and stick to making good products that can solve users' problems. The key direction is to "root users and solve pain points".

Q: Pesticide market competition is fierce, the promotion and application is complex and difficult, how to maintain the implementation of downstream promotion?

A: This problem is probably a headache for most enterprises and channel dealers. Let me briefly explain my opinion. I think it is impossible for any enterprise to promote and execute efficiently in all markets. If you want to do well in this part, there are several aspects we must consider: First, focus on the market that is sure to win the competition and rapidly increase the market share; Second, in the core market, we should form a consensus with dealers on goals and actions. Only with consensus can we have synergy. The third is the action assessment, whether the long-term assessment objectives have been completed, and whether the specific landing actions of the short-term assessment have been implemented in place.

Q: Kangqiao has been focusing on Pyraclostrobin for more than 10 years. Please talk about the development and your experience of these years.

A: In 2011, we successfully developed Pyraclostrobin, and applied for the invention patent in 2014. In 2015, the technicals and formulations were certified registration at the same time, and Kangqiao officially entered our "Pyraclostrobin year". With more than ten years of dedication, we are full of hope for the future of Pyraclostrobin.

For the technology, from the initial 3 grinding machines, now we adopt 5 series grinding machines cold chain grinding according to the purity of the technicals and the characteristics of melting point and melting range, and finally ensure the nano size of SC and stable product performance. All of these are the results of continuous innovation and continuous improvement.

For application: from the initial application on fruit trees and field to the expansion registration of medicinal materials and flowers, Kangqiao has been exploring new application crops on Pyraclostrobin. At present, 13 crops have been registered, and the application scope will be continuously expanded in the future. This is real development and change.

Pyraclostrobin is a compound with unique fungicide spectrum, application spectrum, health properties and other characteristics, so that it has a great room for growth. At present, the amount of domestic market application and application crops did not reach its peak growth. After the expiration of the patent, some enterprises continue to hit the market with low prices. we do not want to see these things. We hope to seriously promote the application and enhance the product value together with all the enterprises.

Q: Do you want to say something to all your partners?

A: First, many thanks to the support of the partners who have accompanied Kangqiao on this journey. Then I want to point two things. First, the future must be the future of innovative enterprises. No matter what aspects of continuous innovation, only innovation can find a certain future in the volatile agricultural materials environment. Second: the future must be the future of focused enterprises, whether focusing on compounds, or focusing on a crop or a specific region, only focusing can see the future.

Kangqiao's focus and innovation are inseparable from the help of upstream and downstream partners. We hope that we can continue to work together in the future and make greater contributions to crops, users and the entire agrochemical industry.