Chapter 295 - 152: Visitors

Chapter 295: Chapter 152: Visitors

The researcher with the mole chimed in with a word of caution. "Jiang Bo, your company really needs to think twice! It’s hard to make money from soybeans right now. It’s best not to make such a massive investment all at once."

These researchers had just seen the vast amount of facilities being set up at the base, along with over two hundred construction vehicles working in the distance. An investment of this scale would cost at least several hundred million, and they truly felt pained at the thought of all that money.

Zhang Zhiyong also reminded him with some concern, "Jiang Bo, you might not understand the current domestic soybean market. Recently, the market price for Grade 3 soybeans with 36% protein content is only 3,600 yuan per ton. And the average soybean yield in Zhelimu City is only about 150 kilograms per mu. Don’t be fooled by the fact that I research soybeans—experimental plots and regular farmland are two completely different things."

There was certainly some truth to what they were saying.

After all, Zhang Zhiyong’s team was part of a national key R&D sub-project focused on high-yield cultivation models for corn and soybeans in the western Northeast. In 2024, the yield tests from their experimental plots showed a theoretical soybean yield of 390.93 kg/mu (at 13% moisture content), which set a new small-plot, high-yield record for the Monan Region.

But that was of little use; at least, it wasn’t the deciding factor.

The key lay in those two words: "small-scale."

It wasn’t difficult to achieve those numbers in an experimental plot with meticulous cultivation, sufficient water, fertilizer, light, and heat, provided there was no extreme weather and the seeds were of high quality.

But scaling up from a small area to a large one was the real challenge.

Jiang Miao first thanked Zhang Zhiyong’s team for their kind intentions. "I’m very grateful for your concern, but our company is investing in this project to make a profit. I would certainly never get into a money-losing venture."

Faced with Jiang Miao’s insistence, Zhang Zhiyong sighed to himself. Still, he knew to stop while he was ahead. This was Hailufeng Company’s investment, after all. He had offered his advice; whether they took it was not up to him.

The other researchers also looked like they wanted to say something but held back. Seeing that their leader had fallen silent, they chose to do the same.

Zhang Zhiyong changed the subject. "Jiang Bo, what kind of yield in kilograms per mu can you achieve with your soybeans?"

"Between 290 and 332 kilograms," Jiang Miao answered truthfully.

"That’s a decent yield," Zhang Zhiyong said, not too surprised. He subconsciously assumed this was data from Hailufeng Company’s experimental plots.

Many of the farmers their research team collaborated with could also achieve that level on small-scale plots.

Zhang Zhiyong brought up another matter. "Jiang Bo, if it’s possible, we’d like to set aside an observation plot at your cultivation base. It doesn’t need to be too big—10 mu would be enough."

"No problem. The soybeans at our base will be sown from mid-to-late June and harvested in mid-October. When the time comes, you can directly contact the heads of our branch company, Wu Song or Liu Zhiben."

"Alright," Zhang Zhiyong said with a smile and a nod.

"It seems your new soybean variety is a short-season type, Jiang Bo." The researcher with glasses wasn’t surprised by this, as long-season soybean varieties weren’t well-suited to the climate in their region.

Zhang Zhiyong then brought up seed promotion. "Jiang Bo, if your soybeans perform well at the cultivation base this year, and the perennial trials for next year can still guarantee at least 60% of that yield, I can help recommend them to some local growers. Your company does sell seeds, I assume?"

"Of course."

Speaking of seeds, Zhang Zhiyong remembered something else and quickly added, "Jiang Bo, have you patented your soybean variety? If not, you should do it as soon as possible. If you think the variety has significant value, you should register for an international patent to prevent foreign seed companies from swooping in and registering it first."

"Thank you for the reminder. We’ve already registered both domestic and international patents, and we’ve also patented some specific gene fragments." This was something Jiang Miao took very seriously.

Hearing that Jiang Miao had even patented the gene fragments, Zhang Zhiyong was a little surprised. He found himself becoming genuinely interested in these three varieties from Hailufeng Company.

After all, even when ordinary seed companies registered patents, they usually only registered for domestic variety patents. Few would even register for international patents, let alone go out of their way to patent specific gene fragments related to the variety.

A company would only go to such lengths if the variety was truly exceptional and had extremely high economic value.

Because registering a patent costs money, and patenting gene fragments isn’t just a matter of money. It also requires submitting a genetic analysis report to confirm that the submitted gene fragment is a new discovery before a patent can be granted for it.

In the past, domestic companies weren’t careful about this sort of thing and even gifted wild soybean seeds to Monsanto Company. Monsanto then took unique gene fragments from that wild soybean, patented them, and in turn sued domestic seed companies, demanding royalties for using those specific gene fragments.

Those were the bitter consequences of neglecting intellectual property protection.

Zhang Zhiyong snapped out of his thoughts. "It’s good that you’re prepared, Jiang Bo. Can’t let those foreign bloodsuckers exploit any loopholes."

"Back when I was studying at Lion Mountain Agricultural University, my professors often reminded us to be wary of foreign seed companies," Jiang Miao said, taking a sip of his salty milk tea.

"Exactly! The country lacked experience in the past, and foreign seed companies stole many of our unique germplasm resources." Zhang Zhiyong was clearly pained as he said this.

They talked for over two hours without realizing it. Seeing that it was almost noon, Zhang Zhiyong remembered he still had to go to the desert research station in Bashi County today. He quickly took his leave from Jiang Miao.

Jiang Miao had intended to invite them for lunch, but Zhang Zhiyong, who was in a hurry, politely declined.

As Zhang Zhiyong and his team hurried away, Liu Zhiben and Wu Song finished handling some matters at the breeding base and returned to the main base to report to Jiang Miao.

While they were talking, Li Zixuan knocked and entered the room.

"Boss, these are the documents General Manager Jiang just sent over."

Taking the documents, Jiang Miao quickly flipped through them.

There were three items.

First, the acquisition of Yangcheng New Le Kang Pharmaceutical Company had been settled. The final price was 17 million cheaper than previously estimated.

Second, for the Pearl River Delta expansion project his sister was in charge of, the purchase of shops and residences in Peng City and Goose City was now complete.

The last item was that someone had attempted to infiltrate the company’s Egyptian Catfish Breeding Base last night and had been caught on the spot by security personnel.