Talking about beginnings and future
"It is good when body and soul of human is in good condition." - conversation with Péter Simon, CEO of Fertilia Ltd.
- Mr. Simon! Entering to the building next to the reception I saw a show-case, inside different kind of certifications and awards. In the last few years you won a lot.
- Yes, it is true, recently lot of award was given for us.
- Yes, it is true, recently lot of award was given for us.
- Last year and this year as well the award of the Agro-Mashexpo, and this September the award of Magyar Termék (hungarian product), and at OMÉK the award of Plant growing.
- But also they had antacedents as well. We recieved our first award in 1998.
- But also they had antacedents as well. We recieved our first award in 1998.
- That was the first admission of your products?
- No. With this award, a totaly different innovation was recognized. It crossed to our mind, what if we transoprt the fertilizers in Bigbags to our customers.
- No. With this award, a totaly different innovation was recognized. It crossed to our mind, what if we transoprt the fertilizers in Bigbags to our customers.
- Like in those bags, in which the seeds are transported?
- Exactly. But it wasn’t that easy. We loaded urea to the BigBags, we transported in the fall, and after we transferd back in the spring as a stone block, like concrete. I think, we can learn from mistakes. After this we started to think on a solution, which protect the fertilizer from moisture, and soon we found it. For this innovation we recieved that award.
- Exactly. But it wasn’t that easy. We loaded urea to the BigBags, we transported in the fall, and after we transferd back in the spring as a stone block, like concrete. I think, we can learn from mistakes. After this we started to think on a solution, which protect the fertilizer from moisture, and soon we found it. For this innovation we recieved that award.
- But the further awards are belonging to the products. What is it, in which the products of the Fertilia is vary from the others?
- It is essential, that our products are customized, but I would like to start from earlier.
- You makes my job easier.
- In Hungary the farmers and farmlands mainly uses bulk fertilizers. I can define it like as a bakery. Earlier it was bread, crescent and bread roll.
- Like NPK.
- Exatly. What do we see in a bakery if we go in? Lots of the different kind of products, which are mainly made from the same flour. But also there are different kind of flours nowadays, which makes the supply much more various, of course these products are more expensive than the original ones.
So this analogy can be adopted into our products.
- Maybe the bakery gave the idea to go to the direction of selection?
- I discussed with one of my colleague at the beggining, what is needed, what is the trend of the future. We wouldn’t like to orient for the bulk production, in those there is no additional value.
- Like in case of cereals, when it is exported naturally.
- Yes. We found out, that it has just negative effect which lead to down. That time we settled our strategy, that we have to manufacture own products, and go to the market with them. Just this way can be our future. In this case we can give the products for our customers with an additional value.
- Yes. We found out, that it has just negative effect which lead to down. That time we settled our strategy, that we have to manufacture own products, and go to the market with them. Just this way can be our future. In this case we can give the products for our customers with an additional value.
- Was it demand for the products that time?
- Yes, it was, but our first product Gramix was not welcomed by the professionals.
- Yes, it was, but our first product Gramix was not welcomed by the professionals.
- Why?
- Becuse it was a negative feeling against the mixed fertilizers.
- They didn’t get, what they wanted, or the ratio wasn’T good, or the formulation was not adequate, or what was the reason?
- Because of the belief what i told you before. We tried from the beggining, to produce a mixture which has good quality, relaible and constant in ratio and the most important to garantiee that the product in the bag is the same what is onvthe label. It began with to buy good quality raw materials and we bought a machine from Germany for this process and we applied a sifter system before the packaging.
- Like in case of the seeds?
- Yes, like that case. Just uniform fractions go to the bags. Because of this, we had to improve the package system as well, but we solved it.
- Let’s go back to the begginings. When was Fertilia founded?
- In 1991.
- Where is the name come from?
- I always liked the botanical name of the plants. Mainly the linden, which is sounds so nice: TILIA. One morning, when I woke up it just came into my mind Fertilia. So I found the name, which has also meaning, fertility.
- So a dream comes true like in this way. So the name was done, but what was needed to start, what was the motivation, that took you to the world of fertilizers?
- I worked for the company IKR at the beggining of my career, as a manager of UN fertilizers. I spent there 5 years, and I got in contact with fertilizers that time, as a trader, while before I was a consumer. At the time of the regime change it was my idea and dream, that once I would like to do this.
- An own one, but what kind of?
- First I was dreaming about a nursery, or about a pub, or a grocerie, what is just mine, and the best and most fastidious business runs under my name.
- First I was dreaming about a nursery, or about a pub, or a grocerie, what is just mine, and the best and most fastidious business runs under my name.
- So finally dreams came true as fertilizers. I would like to hear about them.
- This is a group of products, in which the Gramix NPK, the FertisSol and the newest UMG MICRO starter family are dominants.
- Wheher does UMG come from?
- New-Microelement-Generation. I thought, that this name is felicity in Hungary and at the same time on the international market sounds good as well.
- New-Microelement-Generation. I thought, that this name is felicity in Hungary and at the same time on the international market sounds good as well.
- If I know well, the products containing organic compounds as well.
- We have a product and we didn’t stop developing. This is the Rizodyne soil activator, which organic component improves the soil life, the soil activity, thereby it helps the reproduction of microorganismuses in the soil, as follows the NPK efficiency.
- We have a product and we didn’t stop developing. This is the Rizodyne soil activator, which organic component improves the soil life, the soil activity, thereby it helps the reproduction of microorganismuses in the soil, as follows the NPK efficiency.
- Can we say with this the future begins?
- We know that in the soil lots of microorganismus present. One part of them lives on the root of the plant, and others close to them. If we increase the activity of them, then the plant gets more nutrients, which means that in the early stages develops itself faster, therefor the seedling became stronger and more resistant.
- This is the point, when it makes me curious, to see the plant and the products.
- Let’s go! With the tankers we transpor the UN fertilizers, we have 18 of them. Te solid fertilizers are transported by our tracks, but in rush we need wage carriers.
- Let’s go! With the tankers we transpor the UN fertilizers, we have 18 of them. Te solid fertilizers are transported by our tracks, but in rush we need wage carriers.
- It is hard to describe for our raeder other parts of the plant and products, but we stoped next to one product. It is the mentioned Rizodyne. It is granulous and has a special smell.
- Yes, it has, because of the added organic component.
- Yes, it has, because of the added organic component.
- This is not bulk goods, it is packed to 20kg bags.
- It is mainly for starter. One bag is enough approximately for one hectare. With the name we wanted to show, that this product helps for the root development.
- What if we make a chart, wher would FERTILIA take place between the companies?
- Originally we are not belonging to the big companies, and its hard to compare with the others because our philosophy and technology is different. But I am totally sure that the way which was choosen by us is the right, because of the continouse development and its results.
- So I ask in an other way, what kind of developmental path do you imagine, and consider realistic.
- For sure not the mass-production is our aim. Invariably we would like to manufacture speacialized fertilizers for individual needs in a wide range with bioligically active components. I see the real future in the UMG starters, which provides unlimited markets, and also big profit. We hope, that with this product we can go to the international market.
- What is the size of this product?
- The fraction of it is 0.1-1 mm.
- Are there units to get out the UMG MICRO starters?
- Partly yes, in case of the spring sown plants there are units to get out the starter. In case of the fall sown plants there is also need, but it is not yet solved. We can help in it, next to the microgranulars we can give an additional unit, with the help of it can be got out the micro starter.
- Partly yes, in case of the spring sown plants there are units to get out the starter. In case of the fall sown plants there is also need, but it is not yet solved. We can help in it, next to the microgranulars we can give an additional unit, with the help of it can be got out the micro starter.
- So it means, that this unit can be fixed on the sowing machine, and at the same time with sowing the microgranulars goes to the soil.
- This soultion comes from the problem, that the farmers wanted to use the UMG MICRO, but always the question raised, how to get out?
- Let’s go back to the awards! How comes that you always gets one?
- Because we alway apply to tenders, which ones can cede our products. The rest is the matter of jury.
- I already asked about your carrer, but our reader wants to know more. Can I ask?
- Yes, certainly. I graduated in Gödöllő in 1981 as Plant protection engineer.
- Few years ago there was a photo exhibition at a coference, where your photos were presented. And what a good ones! Where does this passion comes?
- A human can have a lot of passion during his/her life. I had also several. I started 8 years ago, and I hope it will stand to the rest of my life. But shooting also requires creativity, what i can do next to my work.
- There were photos from Tibet as well…
- I did them in Nepal, but there is not too big difference between them.
- On that exhibition you phrased me your life wisdom so well.
- We have to build ourself values, of course work belongs to it, but our life is more than this, and we have to live better this more.
- We have to build ourself values, of course work belongs to it, but our life is more than this, and we have to live better this more.
- Hobbies?
- In the first position is photography, and after sport. Every year I run the half marathon twice. It is good when body and soul of human is in good condition.
Agrofórum - agricultural newspaper