CHENGDU, China – On December 28, 1990, a small enterprise named "Chengdu SUSTAR Mineral Element Pretreatment Plant" quietly started operations in a rented, bankrupt township factory workshop in Sanwayao, Chengdu. At that time, China’s feed industry was just taking off, and there was no industrial production of feed‑grade trace mineral additives. Major feed producers like Tongwei and Hope had to process industrial‑grade raw materials themselves, with inconsistent quality. Few could have imagined that this modest start would, over the next three decades, grow into one of the most influential professional R&D, production, and sales enterprises in China’s mineral trace element industry.
Trailblazing Beginnings: Breaking New Ground
In the early 1990s, China’s feed additive sector was still in its infancy. Following a recommendation from the Provincial Science and Technology Commission and expert feasibility studies, the SUSTAR chairman made the decisive investment to enter this field. The early conditions were extremely basic – rented workshops with simple facilities and a small scale – but the team’s determination never wavered.
With no off‑the‑shelf production equipment available, SUSTAR collaborated with a grain machinery plant for processing equipment, a metallurgical plant for customized pulverizers, and an electrical components factory for power system design, overcoming numerous technical hurdles. On the technology front, the company adopted Italy’s advanced air‑flow drying process (then state‑of‑the‑art in China) and became one of the country’s first producers of feed‑grade trace mineral additives. The official establishment of Chengdu SUSTAR Mineral Element Pretreatment Plant on December 28, 1990, marked the beginning of its dedicated journey in professional R&D and production of feed trace minerals.
A Quality Awakening: One Complaint That Changed an Industry Standard
In 1995, a customer complaint became a turning point in SUSTAR’s history. A feed company using SUSTAR products reported that downstream duck farmers experienced anorexia, discoloration of beaks and legs, and even mortality among their flocks. Investigation traced the cause to excessive cadmium in the raw materials – yet at that time, China’s national standards did not include cadmium limits.
Instead of shifting blame, SUSTAR took the initiative to recommend that the authorities introduce cadmium control measures, helping to drive the establishment of relevant national standards. This act marked the beginning of SUSTAR’s long‑standing participation in the development and revision of national standards. That same year, the company formally adopted its core business philosophy: "Quality First, Customer Foremost, Integrity as Foundation." With the help of experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Organic Chemistry, SUSTAR built a comprehensive quality management system covering incoming raw material inspection, production process control, and finished product testing.
In 1997, the company relocated from Sanwayao to Xinmiao Village on Wuhou Avenue, and in 1998 it was renamed "Chengdu SUSTAR Feed Co., Ltd." – moving beyond the "pretreatment plant" scope to fully cover feed additives and premises, better aligned with customer needs.
Setting Standards and Expanding Footprint: From Industry Participant to Rule‑Maker
In 2001, SUSTAR became a member unit of the National Feed Industry Standardization Technical Committee, formally joining the ranks of industry standard‑setters. From 1997 to 2010, the company participated in drafting or revising eight national and industry standards, including HG2932‑1999 Feed Grade Copper Sulphate and GB/T13079‑2006 Determination of Total Arsenic in Feeds. In 2005, it passed ISO9001 quality management system certification, further elevating its quality control standardization.
While leading in standards, SUSTAR also expanded its industrial footprint. In 2004, it was awarded "Trustworthy Product by the National Feed Industry Association" and named "Agricultural Leading Enterprise of Wuhou District." It was also recognized as a "Top Taxpayer" in Wuhou District for three consecutive years (2004‑2006). Due to land planning adjustments in Wuhou District, the company moved to Xindu as a temporary site in 2008, and in 2011 purchased 30 mu (about 2 hectares) of land in the Pujiang Shou’an Industrial Zone, building a large‑scale production workshop, office complex, living quarters, and a dedicated R&D pilot center. By then, SUSTAR’s customer base had grown to over 1,000, covering multiple provinces with steadily increasing market share.
Technology‑Driven: Doctoral Workstation and Ultra‑Fine Products
After the new Pujiang plant came online in 2011, SUSTAR equipped a professional R&D pilot center, providing a solid hardware foundation for technological innovation. A landmark event occurred on March 20, 2013, when SUSTAR and Sichuan Agricultural University’s Institute of Animal Nutrition jointly established the "Trace Element Nutrition Research Doctoral Workstation" – the 20th such workstation between the institute and an enterprise. This industry‑university‑research collaboration became a powerful engine for SUSTAR’s technological advancement.
In 2014, SUSTAR launched its "Ultra‑Fine Iodine, Cobalt, Selenium" series, filling a technological gap in the ultra‑fine trace element sector. Subsequently, the company obtained ISO22000 food safety management system certification and FAMI‑QS European feed additive certification, aligning with international standards. Between 2011 and 2015, SUSTAR led the drafting of four additional national standards. To date, since 1997, the company has participated in drafting or revising a total of 13 national/industry standards and 2 method standards.
Nationwide Coverage and Global Expansion: From Domestic Leader to International Player
In 2016, SUSTAR invested in establishing Jiangsu SUSTAR Feed Technology Co., Ltd., building a first‑class trace mineral additive premix production line that effectively solved the issues of long transport times and high costs for northern customers. In 2018, Guangdong SUSTAR Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was established, covering the vast southern China market while also serving as a strategic springboard for international exports.
In 2019, SUSTAR International Trade Co., Ltd. was set up to focus exclusively on global business. That same year, Jiangsu SUSTAR, together with Sichuan Agricultural University and the Tongshan District Government, co‑founded the "Xuzhou Lanzhi Bioscience Research Institute." In 2021, the organic trace mineral production line went into operation, filling the gap in organic minerals and achieving full "organic + inorganic" product coverage.
Today, SUSTAR operates 10 affiliated enterprises, with total production base area exceeding 60,000 square meters and annual production capacity of over 200,000 metric tons. Its products reach all 33 provinces and municipalities across China, with long‑term cooperation with more than 2,300 feed companies. In international markets, SUSTAR exports to over 60 countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Canada, the United States, and the Middle East. Its distinguished client list includes global industry giants such as Charoen Pokphand Group, Cargill, DSM, ADM, New Hope Liuhe, Tongwei Group, and Haid Group.
The "3311" Quality System and Organic Innovation: Twin Engines of Core Competitiveness
Over three decades, SUSTAR has developed its proprietary "3311" quality control model:
Three Precisions: precise raw material selection (preferred suppliers and upstream quality control), precise processing control (optimal feeding sequences and rapid in‑process checks), and precise finished product inspection (batch‑by‑batch testing).
Three Highs: high safety (strict control of arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury), high uniformity, and high stability.
One Certificate: every batch comes with a quality specification sheet.
One Report: every batch includes a quality test report.
The company has established 214 in‑house testing items, far exceeding the national standard of 138, with batch‑by‑batch testing of main content, bulk density, particle size, and impurities, while also monitoring chloride, ferric iron, free acid, and other detailed indicators.
On the innovation front, SUSTAR’s organic small‑peptide monomer series (small peptides chelate ferrous/zinc/copper, manganese amino acid, etc.) uses small‑peptide chelation technology. The small peptide chelated minerals series of organic products quickly gained market recognition after launch, with average annual sales growth of 50%, making them a benchmark for technologically advanced products. The company now employs 6 technical experts and 32 QC/R&D personnel, including Professor He Jun, a doctoral supervisor at Sichuan Agricultural University, Yangtze River Scholar, and National "Ten Thousand Talents Program" leading scientist.
Looking Ahead: Becoming the World’s No. 1 Trace Mineral Enterprise
Thirty years of micronutrient dedication have transformed SUSTAR from a rented Sanwayao workshop into one of China’s most influential mineral trace element enterprises. Standing at a new historical milestone, the company has set an ambitious vision: to become the world’s No.1 professional trace mineral enterprise.
Over the next five years, SUSTAR will continue to deepen its national footprint, strengthening market penetration in the west, south, central, and northeast regions, while accelerating international expansion. The company will remain true to its core philosophy of "Quality First, Customer Foremost, Integrity as Foundation," carrying forward the spirit of "doing every gram with care." With the mission of "Safer, More Efficient, Healthy Ecology, Continuous Excellence," SUSTAR is committed to supporting animal nutrition every day – because health begins with SUSTAR.
From industry pioneer to standard‑setter, from local workshop to globally connected enterprise – SUSTAR’s thirty‑plus‑year journey is a vivid microcosm of China’s feed additive industry rising from nothing to strength.
About SUSTAR
SUSTAR is a leading professional R&D and manufacturing enterprise specializing in feed‑grade trace mineral additives, organic trace minerals, and animal premix. With over 36 years of experience, state‑of‑the‑art production facilities, and a commitment to quality and innovation, SUSTAR serves customers in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.sustarfeed.com/.
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Post time: Jul-17-2026
