STEEL Talk presents to you interesting stories of Science, Technology, Energy, Environment, Life — and of course STEEL!

POSCO volunteered spreading silicate fertilizer at a farm in Gwangyang last year. Since POSCO is a steel maker, the connection with fertilizer might seem odd. However, steel and fertilizer are quite close — closer than we think. Let’s see how these two go together.

l What Is Silicate And What Is Slag?

To make iron, iron ore is first smelted in a large blast furnace. After this, the iron ore is separated into molten iron and stony by-product. This by-product is called a ‘blast furnace slag.’ A blast furnace slag has a specific gravity different from molten iron, so it is easily separable.

When slag is first separated, it looks like hot molten lava. So to cool it down, high-pressure water is sprayed on it. After it cools down, the slag takes a sand-like form, and this is called ‘granulated slag.’ The granulated slag is then dehydrated and pulverized into pellet-like shapes about the size of 2 to 5mm. This slag is rich in silicic acid (SiO₂), which is essential for rice farming, so it is made and utilized as a ‘silicate slag fertilizer.’

The main component of silicate fertilizer is silicon (Si). Silicon is not an essential component for plant growth itself, but it is a vital component for the rice plant since 5-10% of its weight is silicic acid — the rice plant is even nicknamed a ‘Silicate Plant.’ Silicon is the most abundant in soil, but because it doesn’t separate well, the rice plant can not absorb the silicic acid. That’s why you need silicate fertilizer. Silicate fertilizers provide the rice plant with silicic acid that is absorbable — enhancing its ability to withstand heavy rainfall, strong winds, and pests.

In Korea, rice that is sticky with a weak scent is generally considered ‘good’ rice. Silicate fertilizer lowers the protein content in the rice, improving the taste and enhancing the quality and standard of the rice.

Slag, which is a by-product of ironmaking at steelworks, contains 25-30% of soluble silicic acid. POSCO has contributed to increase farm income by continuously supplying slag to fertilizer companies since 1974, the year after the Pohang Works began operation. Did you know that all silicate fertilizer used in Korea is made from POSCO slag? In the past 45 years, a total of 13.76 million tons of silicate fertilizers have been supplied to domestic rice paddies.

l Make The Earth Greener

It is a known fact that greenhouse gas causes global warming. In terms of carbon dioxide emissions from the agricultural and dairy industries in Korea, the numbers add up to 21 million tons per year — with 29% accounting from rice paddies. The use of silicate fertilizer is set to help reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted.

Since rice is grown with water-filled into the paddies, the organic matters in the paddy soil break down into methane (CH₄). Research from agricultural experts states that the iron ions (Fe3 +) in the slag fertilizer reduce the methane concentration from the paddy fields by 15-20%. The fertilizer is also expected to contribute to the ultimate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 to 1.5 million tons per year in Korea!

Increasing the use of silicate slag fertilizer is helpful to all — farmers, fertilizer companies, and the whole environment. First of all, the fertilizer improves the soil quality, which in turn enhances rice quality and grades. This eventually leads to higher incomes for the farming communities. For the government, the use of fertilizer reduces methane gas from the paddies, decreasing the amount of overall greenhouse gas. Also, better rice taste boosts the consumption of rice, which increases the competitiveness of fertilizer companies. So silicate slag fertilizer is not only environmentally conscious but also beneficial to the whole society.

POSCO plans to expand the demand for silicate slag fertilizer and develop overseas export markets so that the by-products are recycled well all around! (๑❛ᴗ❛๑)

[See more about the use of by-products here!] POSCO’s Eco Driver: Steel 2

* This article was written with help from Keon-Mok Sohn of POSCO By-Product Recycling Group

Does this mean the ‘food’ here refers to steel? Because that would make much more sense, but no! It doesn’t.

POSCO Group has been involved in the agro-resources for a while now. As of late, the company is really growing the business, designating it to be included as one of POSCO’s top 100 reforms.

In September this year, POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a grain export terminal in Ukraine as part of the reform effort. Agro-resource is much more than just profits, as food security is becoming more important. Why is POSCO Group in it, and what does the company aspire to achieve through the business? POSCO Newsroom reports.

l Agro-resources — Why Is It Important?

In the 2000s, severe drought swept across Europe and Latin America, the world’s top wheat-producing regions. Global crop production plunged incurring sharp food inequality across nations. Real concerns on food shortages started surfacing — now, food security has become one of the top policy agendas worldwide.

What is the reality of Korea’s food security? The 2018 Global Food Safety Index ranks Korea 25th out of 113 countries with a score of 75.6. Not only did Korea score low compared to other OECD countries, but the country’s grain self-sufficiency is declining every year. Considering Korea’s traditional grain-based diet and ever-increasing meat consumption which require huge amount of grain feed, Korea’s GFSI figure is alarming.

Based on the statistics from the last three years, the Korea Rural Economic Institute reports that Korea’s grain-self sufficiency ratio is at 23% — the global average is 101.5%. Korea’s annual grain demand is over 20 million tons including both for human and animal consumption, but except for rice, Korea relies mostly on imports. This level of high dependence will exacerbate the food crisis whenever the global grain prices fluctuate, which is why securing sustainable future food resources is crucial.

l From the Industrial Rice to the Actual Rice

As for the trade volumes, POSCO INTERNATIONAL is Korea’s number one agriculture trader. In addition to the direct involvement in food production, the company is generating long-term and stable profits through its global grain value chain ranging from processing, storage, transportation to terminal operations. Some of its biggest operations include the palm oil business in Indonesia, rice processing complex in Myanmar and grain terminal in Ukraine.

(1) Farm Value Chain: Palm Oil Business, Indonesia

▲ Palm oil plantation in Indonesia — POSCO INTERNATIONAL

POSCO INTERNATIONAL’s palm oil business in Indonesia is a type of farm value chain which includes direct production activities. In 2011, POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a plantation in Papua, Indonesia. As of 2017, palm oil occupies 39% of the edible oil market, and Indonesia is one of the world’s top palm oil producers. Together with Malaysia, Indonesia produces 85 percent of the world’s palm oil. Amidst the world’s bio market spotlighting palm oil for its wide usage, Indonesia’s palm oil is consumed domestically and is also exported to other countries in Asia, Europe.

(2) Processing Value Chain: Rice Processing Complex, Myanmar

▲ Rice Processing Complex in Myanmar (RPC) — POSCO INTERNATIONAL

After Indonesia, POSCO INTERNATIONAL subsequently sought after a new project in Myanmar, one of the major rice-exporting countries. With 20 years of rice-importing experience under its belt, POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a processing value chain in Myanmar: the company first purchases paddy from producing area in Myanmar; subsequent procedures like drying, storage, milling, and inspection can be done altogether, not at separate places. The first plant has been in operation since 2017, and the second plant was completed earlier this year. The plants are set to process and distribute 100,000 tons of rice annually.

(3) Distribution Value Chain: Grain Terminal, Ukraine

▲ POSCO International Ukraine Mikolai Grain Terminal

Ukraine is among the world’s top five countries exporting major grains such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. POSCO INTERNATIONAL established a grain procurement corporation in the world’s major grain belt, Ukraine, subsequently establishing a grain export terminal before any other Korean companies. With the annual capacity of the terminal expected at 2.5 million tons, the operation of the terminal took off this year. By securing the grain terminal, POSCO INTERNATIONAL has now established a distribution value chain, followed by the previous farm and processing value chains.

With this establishment, POSCO INTERNATIONAL can have logistics control which deals with purchase, inspection, storage, shipment of Ukrainian grain coming into the terminal. Efficient inventory management is an additional benefit. The fact that a private company like POSCO INTERNATIONAL is operating an overseas export terminal not only means its capacity growth as a global grain trader, but also signifies its potential contribution to establishing Korea’s grain procurement system for the future.

l The Completed Value Chain to Incur 5 Trillion Won in Sales and Improve Food Security

POSCO INTERNATIONAL aspires to grow its agro-resources business into 5-trillion won cash cow business by 2030. To that end, the company is stepping up its midstream expansion and the completion of the value chain. The palm oil business in Indonesia is starting to make profits, and now there is a much more positive outlook on the second plant of Myanmar’s rice processing complex. By establishing the company’s comprehensive value chain system encompassing food distribution, production, procurement, and processing, the company will further strengthen its base for the agro-resources as a future core business.

Meanwhile, as more consumers opt for non-GMO food products, and logistics efficiency improves, Ukraine’s crop export to Asia is increasing. Therefore, the Ukrainian government is proactively seeking to improve aging storage facilities and to develop grain export terminals. POSCO INTERNATIONAL’s grain terminal business is significant in that private company is cooperating with the government for overseas grain stockpiling.

As for Korea’s food security, it is also strategically important to diversify base grounds such as Ukraine to cope with more flexibility in responding to the food fluctuations that can occur arising from climate change and diplomatic conflicts. This is why overseas grain storage business by a private company like POSCO INTERNATIONAL becomes even more significant. It is also important to establish a supply chain in the Black Sea port, which exports approximately 90% of Ukraine’s total grain exports. Solid construction for one of POSCO Group’s new growth engines has begun — and the company is more prepared than ever to take the next step.