Malawi Training Program on Fertiliser Production and Management at the South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou and Guangdong

1.0 Introduction

The global agricultural landscape is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the demands of climate resilience, food security, and sustainable intensification. For Malawi, a nation where agriculture is central to livelihoods and economic stability, embracing advanced and efficient farming systems is essential to future development.

In this context, the Malawi Training Program on Fertiliser Production and Management was established as a strategic initiative to enhance technical expertise, facilitate technology transfer, and support the modernisation of Malawi's agricultural sector. Implemented by South China Agricultural University from 1-14 December 2025, the program provided Malawian delegates with direct exposure to China's innovative agricultural systems through a combination of academic instruction, practical laboratory sessions, and immersive field-based learning.

The core objectives of this field-based learning component were to showcase scalable and efficient models of soilless cultivation, hydroponic systems, and integrated nutrient management. It also aimed to demonstrate the production, application, and benefits of liquid fertilisers and precision fertigation technologies. Another key objective was to highlight the integration of digital tools, such as drones, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, into farm management and value chain development. Ultimately, the program sought to equip participants with actionable insights and adaptable strategies to improve agricultural productivity, sustainability, and commercial viability in Malawi.

This report documents the observations, key learnings, and operational insights gathered during visits to high-value agricultural enterprises, research centres, and production facilities across Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. It captures not only the technological and methodological advances observed but also the institutional and policy frameworks that enable their successful implementation. By presenting a structured synthesis of best practices and proposing a forward-looking action plan, this report seeks to inform policy, guide investment, and inspire innovation within Malawi's agricultural sector, contributing to long-term food security and rural prosperity. My attendance was made possible through the support of the Future Africa Research Leader Fellowship (FAR-LeaF II), which seeks to advance climate-resilient and equitable agricultural innovation in Africa.

Further, the report reflects on how the training directly informs and enhances my FAR-LeaF II research project: "Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change: Development and upscaling of granulated urine fertilisers to enhance food security in southern Malawi's marginalised communities." The program provided critical exposure to advanced fertiliser technologies, digital agriculture tools, and sustainable nutrient management systems, all directly applicable to the context of climate-vulnerable smallholder farming in Malawi.

2.0 Key Insights Relevant to FAR-LeaF II Research

The training program offered a profound, real-world immersion into China's advanced agricultural innovation ecosystem, providing directly transferable insights that align with and significantly enhance the core objectives of my FAR-LeaF II fellowship. The observations and technical knowledge gained are not merely theoretical; they provide actionable pathways to address the specific challenges of climate vulnerability and food insecurity in southern Malawi. The following sections distil the most relevant learnings, each offering a strategic component that can be integrated into the development, validation, and scaling of granulated urine fertilisers for marginalised communities.

2.1 Liquid Fertilisers and Precision Fertigation

• Exposure to water-fertiliser integration technologies demonstrated how liquid fertiliser systems can enhance nutrient use efficiency under water-scarce conditions—a key challenge in climate-affected southern Malawi.

• Techniques for producing and applying liquid fertilisers can be adapted to granulated urine-based formulations to improve accessibility and reduce leaching.

  
  

2.2 Soilless and Hydroponic Systems

• Visits to hydroponic parks highlighted scalable models for high-efficiency vegetable production that use minimal water and land.

• These systems offer potential for diversification and resilience in marginal agro-ecological zones, complementing soil-based granulated fertiliser applications.

  
  

2.3 Digital Agriculture Integration

• The use of drones, IoT sensors, and AI for nutrient management and monitoring aligns with the need for data-driven decision-making in climate-vulnerable regions.

• Such tools could be integrated into the deployment and impact assessment of granulated urine fertilisers in farmer fields.

  
  

2.4 Public-Private-Academic Collaboration

• The Chinese model of linking research, industry, and policy provides a blueprint for translating urine-fertiliser research into commercially viable, socially acceptable products.

• Partnerships demonstrated at sites such as Dongguan YiXiang Liquid Fertiliser Co., Ltd. are directly relevant to scaling up local fertiliser enterprises in Malawi.

  
  

3.0 Alignment with Fellowship Objectives

The training program served as a powerful reinforcement of the foundational principles underpinning the FAR-LeaF II fellowship, directly aligning its experiential learning with the fellowship's strategic goals. Beyond acquiring specific technical skills, the immersion in China's agricultural systems provided a living case study in translating research into tangible, climate-smart solutions. Crucially, it demonstrated practical models for achieving the fellowship's core aims: enhancing systemic resilience against climate shocks, ensuring innovations are accessible and beneficial to the most vulnerable smallholder farmers, and building robust bridges between academic research and real-world, scalable implementation. The training reinforced the core objectives of the FAR-LeaF II fellowship by:

1. Enhancing Climate Resilience – Learning nutrient management systems that reduce environmental impact while maintaining productivity under climatic stress.

2. Promoting Inclusive Innovation – Engaging with models that integrate smallholders into sustainable value chains through affordable, locally adaptable technologies.

3. Strengthening Research-Practice Links – Gaining insights into moving from pilot studies to scalable implementation, a key gap in current urine fertiliser research.

   
   

4.0 Revised Action Plan for Research Integration

Building directly upon the technical and strategic insights gained from the training in China, I propose a revised, phased action plan to integrate these advancements into my FAR-LeaF II research project. This three-year roadmap is designed to translate learned concepts into locally adapted, scalable solutions systematically. In 2026, the focus will be on practical field validation by adapting liquid fertigation techniques for granulated urine fertiliser trials and establishing collaborative pilot hydroponic units with MUST, directly testing climate-resilient nutrient systems. The following year, 2027, will prioritise developing a digital monitoring framework utilising IoT and drone technology to enable real-time, data-driven assessment of fertiliser performance and soil health, ensuring precise impact evaluation for marginalised communities. Finally, in 2028, efforts will shift towards sustainable scaling by forging a formal Malawi-China research partnership. This collaboration will concentrate on critical aspects of urine fertiliser blending, product stability, and commercialisation pathways, leveraging international expertise to transition the innovation from successful piloting to broader adoption and impact.

My attendance was made possible through the support of the Future Africa Research Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF II) programme, which seeks to advance climate-resilient and equitable agricultural innovation in Africa. I extend my sincere gratitude to Future Africa and the University of Pretoria for the critical support provided through the FAR LeaF II fellowship, which enabled this transformative learning opportunity. The investment has not only advanced my individual capacity but has also strengthened the potential impact of our collective work towards equitable and sustainable agricultural development in Africa.

I look forward to actively integrating these insights into the next phase of my fellowship activities and to exploring avenues for collaborative projects that leverage the connections and knowledge gained. I am prepared to discuss how these strategic learnings can be operationalised within the FAR LeaF II framework to foster innovation, build resilience, and contribute meaningfully to food security in climate-vulnerable regions.

Research visit report by Dr Jabulani Nyengere reworked for publication by Leti Kleyn.