Amid Soaring Fertilizer Prices, Izawa Shoten Proposes a New Approach: 'Reduce Fertilization, Protect Profits' – Launches Free Individual Consulting

Amidst ongoing fertilizer price hikes and supply instability due to Middle East tensions, Izawa Shoten Co., Ltd. (Hyogo Prefecture, Contact: Kazuya Miyata) is launching a new initiative to protect farmers' profits. They are now offering free individual consulting, previously a paid service, to provide 'designs that enhance fertilizer utilization efficiency and achieve results with less fertilization.'

■ Background: Actually, 'Half of Fertilizers Are Unused'
In agriculture, it is common to apply fertilizers to secure yields, but the **utilization efficiency (the proportion actually absorbed by crops)** is surprisingly low.
For example, the utilization rates of major components are as follows:
Nitrogen: 30-50% Phosphorus: 10-30% Potassium: 40-70%
▶ This means that even if 1kg of nitrogen is applied to the soil, crops actually use only about 300-500g.
▶ The remaining 50-70% is lost.

■ 'Fertilization Waste' in Numbers
If 5kg of nitrogen is applied, with a 30% utilization rate → 1.5kg absorbed; with a 40% utilization rate → 2.0kg absorbed.
▶ Just a 10% improvement increases absorption by 33%.
Furthermore,
▶ If the utilization rate can be increased from 30% to 40%,
▶ The same effect can be achieved by reducing the amount of fertilizer by approximately 25-30%.

■ Essence: The Problem is 'Efficiency,' Not 'Quantity'
Traditional agriculture has focused on the idea of
▶ 'Adding more when there's not enough.'
However, due to soaring fertilizer prices, supply instability, and logistics disruptions, this approach is becoming unsustainable.
▶ What's important now is
'How much can be utilized,' not 'how much is applied.'

■ Why Fertilizers Are Lost (4 Factors)
The main reasons for low utilization efficiency are:
(1) Soil Fixation
Phosphorus: Binds with iron, aluminum, and calcium. Potassium: Fixed by clay.
(2) Microbial Uptake
Nitrogen is consumed during organic matter decomposition.
(3) Leaching by Water
Nitrogen, in particular, is easily washed away.
(4) Root Problems
Insufficient root mass, narrow root zone.
▶ In short,
It's not that 'fertilizer is bad,' but 'it's lost due to environment and usage.'

■ Solution: Change Fertilization Design
Izawa Shoten proposes
▶ Designs that increase utilization efficiency rather than increasing fertilizer application.

■ Actual Changes (Field Examples) Nitrogen fertilization reduced by over 30% Yield maintained or improved Profit improvement due to reduced losses
▶ Many fields have achieved a state where 'reducing leads to more profit.'

■ Izawa Shoten's Approach
Our company implements 'role-specific designs' such as:
Root strengthening (improved absorption) Soil environment optimization Nutrient availability enhancement Stress tolerance enhancement
Specifically, by combining products like Laplace (rooting/elongation) / EB-a (environmental preparation) / Eishizuku (activity/stress tolerance) / Meltorin (nutrient utilization/microbes) / Leaf Energy (overall boost),
*For product details, please refer to Izawa Shoten's website.
▶ We design with a 'flow, not just points.'

■ Current Initiative: Opening Free Consulting
We are now offering individual consultations, previously priced at 10,000 yen per hour, for free.

■ Services Provided Fertilization reduction design Utilization efficiency improvement Alternative fertilizer proposals Optimization for each field
▶ We offer profit design, not just product sales.

■ Why Offer for Free?
Currently,
▶ Farmers' management is at a major turning point.
What is needed at this juncture is information, judgment, and design.
Izawa Shoten believes that
▶ It is crucial to change the 'way of using' agriculture,
and has launched this initiative.

■ How to Consult
Official LINE 'Izawa Shoten Miyata'
Send 'I want to consult individually' to the official LINE 'Izawa Shoten Miyata.' We will respond individually.
Official LINE 'Izawa Shoten Miyata'

■ Message from Kazuya Miyata, Manager in charge:
Kazuya Miyata, Manager, Online Sales Department, Izawa Shoten Co., Ltd.
The era where applying fertilizer automatically yields results is over.
In fact, there are increasing cases where reducing fertilizer leads to more profit.
This year, especially, the results will vary greatly depending on 'how to use' rather than 'what to use.'
Let's work together to design that.

Izawa Shoten Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1894, Izawa Shoten Co., Ltd. is an agricultural support company headquartered in Hyogo Prefecture. With over 130 years of accumulated on-site experience and cultivation technology, it has continuously engaged with producers nationwide. Currently, based on fertilizer sales, it has expanded its business domains to include cultivation technology guidance, rice distribution, online sales, seminars, and digital content distribution. It goes beyond merely providing materials, offering support that delves into the transformation of agricultural management itself. Advocating for 'from farming to produce, to farming to sell,' it promotes increased producer profits and the realization of sustainable agriculture. By integrating tradition and innovation, it connects producers and consumers, contributing to Japan's agriculture.