Minbos Resources announce field trial progress and fertilizer strategy

Highlights

• PRIMEIROTM, Minbos’ direct-application phosphate rock fertilizer, has again demonstrated improved crop performance in the 2024–25 field trials compared to local practices. The agronomy trials were established across several key cropping regions of Angola in collaboration with commercial partners and local farmers, reinforcing the product’s practical value and market fit.
• All field trials have demonstrated a strong crop yield response to phosphate, which is widely deficient in Angolan soils. Phosphates are a vital nutrient that supports early root development, flowering, and fruiting, resulting in healthier, more productive plants.
• The Portfolio Development Program, backed by ongoing local replicated trials and on-farm demonstrations, is focused on delivering a pipeline of cost-effective fertilizer formulations tailored to local crops and soil conditions. This program supports immediate farmer needs while also positioning the Company to capture longer-term opportunities, including advanced nutrient systems and the potential incorporation of green ammonia technologies.
• As the only Angolan fertilizer producer and manufacturer, these customised formulations will be made available to farmers across Angola through established distribution networks.
• Led by Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer Mr. Rob Newbold, the Company has initiated further replicated trials of a new blended fertilizer including potassium, nitrogen and sulphur. The Company plans to expand and refine the fertiliser range in response to farmer feedback and agronomic data.
• Included in the latest trials and responding to market feedback, Minbos has developed several dry-blend fertilizer formulations under the PRIMEIRO PLUS+ banner. These formulations combine Minbos’ phosphate rock with imported nitrogen and potassium sources to offer a more complete NPKS nutrient solution. One such blend was trialled this season using both surface and in-furrow application methods, with both techniques delivering efficient and high-yielding results.
• PRIMEIRO PLUS+ is being designed to meet the needs of specific crops and soil types, with different NPK ratios developed through our blending program. These efforts are intended to serve both smallholder and commercial growers, supporting improved productivity across the agricultural sector.
• Field trials using PRIMEIRO PLUS+ have yielded strong results and generated valuable insights into product performance under real-world farming conditions. These findings are informing the next generation of product design and application guidance.

Field trials

PRIMEIROTM, as the name suggests, represents the Company’s first step in addressing Angola’s soil fertility and plant nutrition challenges - but it is not the last. The success has laid the foundation for a broader solution suite, with future formulations already in development.

Minbos’ growth strategy is underpinned by strong partnerships with local market participants, including growers, agronomists, and distributors, to develop solutions that address both current crop nutrition needs and emerging agricultural practices.

Extensive local agronomy trials have demonstrated the efficacy in improving yields and enhancing crop quality. Numerous replicated trials have been conducted in the past five years across a range of soil types and regions, in partnership with organisations such as IFDC, IIA, NPCT, and numerous local farmers.

Through this research, the Company has identified:

• Where it delivers the greatest benefit.
• The most effective application rates and methods.
• Potential adaptations for new product forms (dry blend, granule, or liquid).

It has proven to be a foundational input for plant nutrient management programes, applicable to a wide range of farming systems in Angola.

Future product development

hief Strategy and Marketing Officer Mr. Rob Newbold and Chief Agronomist Dr. Prochnow continue to lead the positioning of the products as core products for both smallholder and large-scale commercial farmers.

Looking ahead, the Company anticipates the product portfolio evolving, including blends of Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Potassium, and Sulphur (N:P:K:S) tailored to the requirements of the Angolan market.

In addition to serving local demand, niche export markets remain a strategic opportunity. Exports will bring economies of scale and generate foreign exchange revenues, supporting Minbos’ growth and financial resilience as fertilizer production begins.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/phosphates/13062025/minbos-resources-announce-field-trial-progress-and-fertilizer-strategy/