China Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group has marked its 25th anniversary with a high-profile summit in Qingdao, bringing together more than 500 scientists, distributors, and industry leaders to celebrate its rise from a small university project into one of the world’s most influential names in marine-derived biostimulants and specialty fertilizers.
The conference, themed the “Coretech Era of Specialty Fertilizers,” served both as a commemoration of the company’s journey and as a roadmap for its next phase: using biotechnology and precision agriculture to respond to the mounting challenges of global food production.
From University Project to Global Player
Seawin Biotech was founded in August 2000 as an initiative linked to the Ocean University of China. Drawing on the Shandong Peninsula’s rich marine ecosystems, the company began by experimenting with seaweed-based extracts to improve crop health.
Over two and a half decades, Seawin has expanded from a small-scale operation to an exporter serving over 80 countries. Its products now account for some of the fastest-growing categories in agricultural inputs, in line with a global biostimulant market that is projected to surpass $7 billion by 2025.
Company chairman and CEO Shan Junwei described Seawin’s history as unfolding in three chapters: the entrepreneurial years, the establishment of an industrial foundation, and the development of an internationally recognized brand.
Now, he said, the firm is stepping into a new phase, one that unites marine biotechnology with precision nutrition strategies tailored to global farming needs.
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Responding to Food Security Pressures
The anniversary summit underscored the agricultural sector’s pressing dilemma: how to feed an expanding global population without degrading ecosystems. The UN estimates food output must increase by 70% by mid-century, while emissions and resource use must fall dramatically.
Seawin’s approach leans heavily on biostimulants derived from marine organisms, which research shows can improve nutrient absorption and bolster plant resilience under stress.
Professor Qin Chong, a marine biomedicine expert at the Ocean University of China, highlighted how seaweed contains bioactive compounds, from amino acids to polysaccharides, that stimulate growth in ways conventional fertilizers cannot.
“These ingredients interact with plant physiology at multiple levels,” Qin explained, “allowing crops to better tolerate heat, drought, and salinity while making more efficient use of soil nutrients.”
A Research-Driven Enterprise
Seawin’s evolution has been built on sustained research investment. Its team of more than 100 specialists, including six PhDs, works across four research tracks:
- Bio-extraction to isolate compounds that enhance plant growth and stress tolerance.
- Bio-fermentation to develop microbial agents that strengthen soil ecosystems.
- Bio-synthesis to expand production of functional agricultural substances.
- Bio-reconstruction to create entirely new compounds inspired by marine biology.
The company’s most striking achievement is its “biostimulant lighthouse factory” in Qingdao’s High-Tech Industrial Development Zone.
Backed by an investment of half a billion yuan, the site integrates multiple technologies to produce advanced formulations. Among its breakthroughs are the composite products SEAD, APAA, and GALA, each claimed as a first in the global marketplace.
Building a Multi-Brand Global Portfolio
Seawin’s product strategy has diversified into a portfolio of five flagship brands:
- SEAWINNER-China: dual-seaweed formulations for crop nutrition.
- WINSEA: fish-protein peptide fertilizers designed to improve soil and crop quality.
- Hi Good: fertilizers built on the APAA compound to support plant function.
- LEGEND series: high-end specialty fertilizers based on the company’s MPA123 technology.
- SEAWINNER-International: export-oriented lines meeting international regulatory standards.
Together, these brands form a matrix that enables Seawin to serve both domestic and overseas markets. Registration in more than 50 countries and a nearly 40% annual export growth highlight the company’s rapid international expansion.
Industry Recognition and Market Evidence
Experts at the summit argued that Seawin’s trajectory reflects a broader realignment in the fertilizer industry. According to Feng Weidong, editor-in-chief of The Agriculture and Market, the specialty fertilizer space is consolidating, and innovators with strong technological niches are beginning to rival multinational incumbents.
Evidence from farmers supports this view. A distributor from Australia’s grain belt reported yield improvements of up to 12% in wheat and barley trials using Seawin’s seaweed formulations.
Japanese partners also highlighted product consistency under diverse growing conditions, reinforcing the company’s claim of adaptability across climates.
Looking Ahead: Biotech, Partnerships, and Data
Seawin’s strategic roadmap focuses on three priorities: expanding synthetic biology research, deepening partnerships with international distributors, and embedding data-driven tools into crop management solutions. Initiatives like “919 Customer Day” and the “Seawin Club” are part of its effort to engage customers more closely.
“Our aim is to integrate biotechnology with digital farming practices,” Shan Junwei said. “That combination will shape the next era of sustainable agriculture.”
Positioning Within a Growing Market
Seawin’s anniversary comes at a pivotal moment for the industry. Global demand for biostimulants is accelerating, with market research indicating:
- Europe commands 40% of the market, expanding at an annual rate above 12%.
- Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with growth topping 15% annually.
- North America is benefiting from supportive regulatory reform.
- Latin America is seeing strong uptake in soybean and corn cultivation.
Recent acquisitions by multinationals such as Bayer, Syngenta, and UPL further signal the sector’s importance in modern crop management.
Aligning with Global Sustainability Goals
Seawin aligns its mission with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), linking its technologies to food security, clean water, climate adaptation, and soil health.
Its patented seaweed extraction processes make use of regional species such as Laminaria Japonica and Enteromorpha Prolifera, with an industrial capacity exceeding 100,000 tons of seaweed annually.
As the REACH lead registrant for Laminaria Japonica, Seawin also holds a leadership position in international regulatory compliance.
This, coupled with its designation as China’s “Single Champion” in marine-based specialty fertilizers, positions the company as both a domestic leader and a credible international partner.
A Quarter-Century of Transformation
From its founding as an academic-industrial experiment to its recognition as a global innovator, Seawin Biotech’s first 25 years showcase the potential of marine biotechnology in reshaping agriculture.
With growing demand for sustainable inputs, maturing regulatory frameworks, and pressing climate challenges, the company sees its future as more than just selling fertilizers. It sees itself as shaping the way crops are grown in the 21st century.
As Shan Junwei summed up during the summit: “Our story began on China’s coast, but the solutions we are building are for farmers everywhere.”