Development and Prospect of Rare Earth Functional Biomaterials for Agriculture in China

The development and prospect of rare earth functional biomaterials (REFB) was discussed. From 1979 to 1985, the simple REFB (salts) has been developed, and the fundamental research including forms, effects, toxicity, conversion in soil, and analysis methods had been finished. Then, the RE feed additive materials had been developed, and the fundamental research had also been finished. In 1990s, new REFB including RE phosphate fertilizer additive, RE conversional agricultural film additive, RE water-retraining reagent and RE seed coating reagent had been developed out rapidly. They were extended to 1. 36 million hectares and big benefit had been got during the last three years. Recently, it was found that RE has some function of antagonizing heavy metals and degradating organophosphors pesticide, so the REFB will be studied as a focus once more, and will become one of the important methods of guaranteeing food security in the future.