Expansion

Li Qingye took a document out of a drawer. "Xin Cheng, I have a new project here. Take a look."

Fang Xin Cheng took the document and read it carefully.

The new project was named: Cultivation and Deep Processing of Genetically Modified Sea Grapes.

Using Gene Recombination Technology, this genetically modified sea grape, with the sea grape algae as the mother strain, had genes from other plants inserted. The resulting genetically modified sea grape possessed characteristics such as rapid growth, massive biomass, high galactose content, high trehalose content, and high amylose content.

According to laboratory test results.

The yield of genetically modified sea grapes was 3400-3700 kilograms per mu (wet weight), and the dried sea grapes after water removal were 18-20% of the original weight.

Each mu of genetically modified sea grapes could yield 120-130 kilograms of amylose, 62-66 kilograms of trehalose, 340-370 kilograms of carrageenan, and 500-540 kilograms of plant fiber.

Furthermore, the growth cycle of genetically modified sea grapes was relatively short. While native sea grapes in the Luzon sea area could only be harvested twice a year, the genetically modified sea grapes could be harvested four times a year.

This was because Li Qingye had enhanced the sea grapes' photosynthesis and increased the coverage area of their leaves, forming giant leaves similar to those of a Victoria amazonica. By increasing the surface area, he aimed to boost photosynthesis.

Of course, this modification was not without its drawbacks. The genetically modified sea grapes would absorb large amounts of nutrients from the seawater and simultaneously block sunlight from reaching the seabed, posing an existential threat to other seaweeds.

It was akin to the towering trees in a tropical rainforest, beneath which other plants had little opportunity to receive sunlight and thus struggled to survive.

To prevent these genetically modified sea grapes from entering the natural environment, Li Qingye had made many preparations in advance.

For instance, gene sterilization ensured that the genetically modified sea grapes could only divide cells to increase their biomass, and these cells could not release reproductive spores.

Another measure was to limit the lifespan of the genetically modified sea grapes, allowing them to grow for only 3 years. After 3 years, they would be unable to divide cells, leading to their complete decay and decomposition.

This meant that once planted, the genetically modified sea grapes could be harvested for 3 years, totaling 12 harvests.

"Boss, won't this investment be too large?" Fang Xin Cheng hesitated.

Li Qingye's plan was to construct sea grape cultivation ponds on a scale of 100,000 mu in Limanan Bay, south of Darte Port, with an investment of 300 million US dollars.

Additionally, a supporting processing plant would be built to extract amylose, trehalose, carrageenan, and fiber from the sea grapes, with an estimated investment of 200 million US dollars.

The 100,000 mu of sea grape ponds would have an annual output of 1.36 to 1.48 million tons of sea grapes. From these, 48,000 to 52,000 tons of amylose, 24,800 to 26,400 tons of trehalose, 136,000 to 148,000 tons of carrageenan, and 200,000 to 216,000 tons of plant fiber could be extracted.

These products could be used as raw materials or sold directly.

Currently, carrageenan was priced at around 10,000 US dollars per ton, trehalose at about 1,000 US dollars per ton, and amylose at approximately 250-280 US dollars per ton.

These were all raw materials used in food processing.

Cellulose, on the other hand, could be used in papermaking, fuel, and plastics.

The total investment of 500 million US dollars was projected to yield an annual output value of approximately 2 billion US dollars.

Li Qingye waved his hand. "Our company currently has a cash flow of 1.1 billion US dollars. An investment of 500 million is not too much. Moreover, next year we will receive another large sum of funds from eel fry and eel farming. We don't need to worry about funding issues in the short term."

Fang Xin Cheng asked with some concern, "Boss, will Luzon agree to the cultivation of genetically modified sea grapes?"

"Don't worry. Mada of the Fernando family and I are good friends. He has agreed to invest and help us resolve all local troubles," Li Qingye said confidently.

After all, Mada was his man. The sea grape cultivation and processing business would not be directly handled by Homo sapiens Company. Instead, it would be through a subsidiary, which would then absorb funds from the Fernando family, appearing as a joint venture.

This way, the Luzon people would save face publicly, while the subsidiary would actually remain under Homo sapiens Company's control.

Since Li Qingye was full of confidence, Fang Xin Cheng naturally had nothing more to say. He inquired, "Then we need to establish a subsidiary. What does the Boss plan to name it?"

"Let's call it Haitian Agriculture Company!"

"I understand. What will be the joint venture ratio?"

"We'll have 70%, and the Fernando family will have 30%."

After discussing some details, Fang Xin Cheng began to mobilize the entire company according to the plan.

Limanan Bay was quite large, with a bay outline resembling a pouch. The bay's outlet was on the north side, with a north-south length of about 38 kilometers and an east-west width of 17-25 kilometers. The sea area was approximately 900 square kilometers, with a coastline of about 120 kilometers.

Since the sea grape cultivation ponds needed to be built by the sea, they naturally had to be located near the coastline.

With Mada's help, Homo sapiens Company quickly established Haitian Agriculture Company, and the two parties completed their cooperation. Mada invested in Haitian Agriculture as a private individual.

Mada would also contribute resources, such as helping Haitian Agriculture obtain 100,000 mu of coastal tidal flats and wasteland for free, as well as 8,000 mu of land for the processing plant, and handling local power brokers.

Meanwhile, with the cooperation of Fili's internal affairs department, Chen Jianxiong remotely directed Mada to secretly select some members from the gang controlled by Mada.

These selected gang members were all orphans and had committed heinous crimes.

These individuals would be sent to Calagua Island one by one for gene modification and biochip implantation, followed by training, and then assigned to the security and internal affairs departments.

Through this covert absorption, Mada's strength was gradually transforming into Homo sapiens Company's strength.

To channel profits to Mada and enhance his influence within the family, Li Qingye also used engineering contracts as a pretext to award the construction of Haitian Agriculture's cultivation ponds to an engineering company owned by Mada.

After all, who earned the money didn't matter, and giving it to Mada's company meant keeping the profits within their own sphere. It was like transferring money from one hand to the other, with a significant portion returning to their own system.

Furthermore, by awarding the project to Mada's company, Homo sapiens Company could implement strict monitoring measures, eliminating concerns about shoddy construction.

After all, even the boss of the company was one of their own. If anyone dared to engage in shoddy work, Li Qingye would admire their disregard for their own lives and prepare gasoline barrels and concrete for them to cool off in the Luzon Trench.

As Homo sapiens Company maintained a very low profile, Mada also downplayed the information about the project.

As the local power brokers, the Fernando family could easily suppress news.

The engineering company, having received the funds, quickly completed land acquisition and began construction.

On the other side, Fang Xin Cheng also found contracting companies to design a comprehensive factory capable of extracting amylose, carrageenan, trehalose, and cellulose.

The factory's production scale was required to be relatively high, capable of producing 200,000 tons of amylose, 400,000 tons of carrageenan, 100,000 tons of trehalose, and 1 million tons of cellulose annually under full load.

Although the current output of 100,000 mu of sea grape fields could not meet the factory's demand, this was a preparation for future expansion.

As long as the eel industry encountered no unexpected issues, Haitian Company could invest in expanding another 100,000 mu of sea grape fields next year.

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