A science project only really gets going when the lab lights come on and the machines turn out their first batches. After its kick-off in February 2023, the project “Applying science and technology to build production models for organic growing media and microbial fertilisers for forestry, medicinal and ornamental plants in Quảng Nam Province”, carried out by Minh Tâm and the Soils and Fertilizers Research Institute (SFRI), moved into building its capacity: training people, equipping itself with machinery, preparing raw materials and producing its first batches of growing media and microbial fertiliser. Most of the equipment and materials were procured in 2024.
Training: learning in the lab
The project ran technical training in Hà Nội and in Quảng Nam. Technical staff practised culturing microorganisms in a laminar-flow hood, learned how to operate fermentation equipment and practised mixing growing media.
Three microbial strains in culture
The strains cultured are Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium and Azotobacter vinelandii. Before production, the first- and second-stage broths of the phosphate-solubilising strains, the antagonistic strains and the Azotobacter strain were all checked. Checking the starter broths lets the technical team be sure it is multiplying the right strains, in good condition, before moving to a larger scale.
Equipment and materials: bought openly, online
In 2024 Minh Tâm, as investor and procuring entity, ran online competitive quotations on the National E-Procurement System for the project's purchases of materials, machinery and equipment. The tender notices give the funding as the central science and technology budget, and the place of delivery as Quế Sơn District, Quảng Nam Province (now part of Đà Nẵng). The main items:
Equipment for microbial fertiliser
An automatic 100-litre microbial fermentation system with a stainless-steel vessel, inverter-controlled agitation and clean air supplied through a 0.2 μm filter membrane;
A 150-litre shaking incubator;
A 95-litre sterilising autoclave.
Equipment for growing media
An organic-material shredder with a capacity of 800–1,000 kg per hour;
An automatic line for fine-powder growing media: a 1 m³ feed hopper, a 1–2 tonne-per-hour grinder, a grading screen, a 500-litre mixer, an automatic bagging machine weighing 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 kg bags, conveyors, a control cabinet and a bag-sewing machine.
Raw materials and supplies
52 tonnes of pre-processed peat with impurities removed;
Chemicals and tools.
The peat package was awarded in June 2024, the two equipment packages in July 2024 and the chemicals and tools package in September 2024.
The first batch of growing media and microbial fertiliser
From the raw materials and the checked strains, the project produced its first batch of growing media and microbial fertiliser, labelled “batch 1, lot 0”. The labelled piles of growing media and microbial fertiliser in the shed were the first tangible result of the whole preparation.
Next step: out into the field
At the end of 2024 the project went on to buy seedlings, bulbs and fertiliser with Quảng Nam Province's science and technology budget, including 160,000 chrysanthemum plantlets, 12,000 lily bulbs and 2,000 kumquat seedlings. In the same period a model for the medicinal plant ba kích ran in Tây Giang during 2024–2025, and the flower and ornamental model included an evaluation workshop in Hội An Tây in November 2025.
Key facts
Project: applying science and technology to build production models for organic growing media and microbial fertilisers for forestry, medicinal and ornamental plants in Quảng Nam Province.
Implemented by: Minh Tam Agricultural Development JSC and the Soils and Fertilizers Research Institute.
Microbial strains: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Azotobacter vinelandii.
Main equipment: a fine-powder growing-media line, an organic-material shredder, a 100-litre microbial fermentation system.
Procurement: online competitive quotations on the National E-Procurement System, 2024.
See more photos of the training, the lab and the first batch on the project page Organic growing media and microbial fertiliser production in Quảng Nam. Organisations interested in growing media and microbial fertiliser are welcome to contact Minh Tâm through the Contact page or on the hotline 0812 492 555.
Sources: National E-Procurement System (muasamcong.mof.gov.vn), tender notices IB2400116582, IB2400170302, IB2400170232, IB2400299910 and IB2400448933; Minh Tâm project records.
