Mixed in the last days as a salted fish

Chapter 386
"Hey, Consul, the owner of this company was originally a farming tycoon. After the Yellowstone volcano erupted, the price of meat soared, so he made a fortune."

Tang Weimu carefully explained.

"So that's how it is." Zhang Hao pretended to be suddenly enlightened, "I said, how can seaweed cultivation be so profitable? To tell you the truth, before I became a consul, I also ran an earthworm farm. Although the profit was very stable, it was only a hard-earned money."

"There are too many restrictions on the planting industry. In fact, the most profitable industry is the energy industry. I heard that several large oil wells have been discovered in Lake Maracaibo. It can be called a sudden wealth."

Tang Weimu immediately agreed.

As soon as the words fell, the boss of the seaweed planting factory walked over quickly with a group of employees.

"Consul, Mayor Tang, welcome to our company to inspect our work."

Tang Weimu hurriedly introduced: "Consul, this is the boss of JBS, Luis David Silva, who is also the president of the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce."

Zhang Hao stretched out his hand and shook the other party: "Mr. Silva, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm sorry to bother you today."

"Consul, you are too polite. It is an honor for all employees of our company to come here."

Silva looked a little excited.

For him, if he can hug the archon's thigh, it is no less than a great opportunity, and he may be able to jump out of the quagmire of Brazil.

After all, the moonshine industry is not a long-term solution.

It is better to plan early.

"Clap clap clap..."

Immediately there was warm applause at the scene.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Hao shook hands with the employee representatives one by one, and then walked towards the inside of the factory surrounded by everyone.

After a brief turn around the office area, everyone came to the production workshop again.

Silva explained while walking: "Consul, all seaweed needs to go through two processes of withering and drying, and finally it is made into dried seaweed."

"Sounds very similar to fried tea."

Zhang Hao said something casually.

"You're right. Our production process is indeed borrowed from the method of making tea." After Silva finished speaking, he grabbed a bunch of dried seaweed: "Consul, look, this is our finished product. Some people specially bought dried seaweed to cook soup to drink in order to supplement vitamins."

Zhang Hao took the dried seaweed and observed it carefully. The color of the dried seaweed was dark black, which looked very similar to Pu'er tea.

He lowered his head and smelled it, and there was a smell of sea.

"What kind of seaweed is this? Can it be eaten?"

Silva hurriedly replied: "This is a new hybrid of two types of seaweed, one is common sargassum, and the other is Antarctic ice algae produced in Antarctica, both of which are edible."

"Since it can be eaten? Then why can't it be seen in the market?" Zhang Hao followed up and asked.

"There are two main reasons. One is that the yield is low, which is far inferior to edible algae such as kelp. The second is that the taste is not good. This new type of seaweed has rough roots and is not easy to digest."

"So, it can only be used to produce ethanol?" Zhang Hao couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

At present, food pressure is still great. If we can find a substitute for staple food, even if the output is lower, it is something worth celebrating.

Silva nodded: "It is indeed the case. The pectin algae has a high content of brown algae, and it is currently the most suitable seaweed species for ethanol production."

"Really? I want to know, is this the scientific research result of your company? Or where did you buy the patent right?"

Zhang Hao said bluntly.

Judging whether a company has development potential mainly depends on its scientific research strength, which is also a golden rule recognized by the industry.

"Consul, we directly purchased the laboratory that developed the Sargasso ice algae, and successively invested heavily in expansion. The current Sargassum ice algae has gone through several rounds of upgrades and improvements."

Silva explained in detail.

Hearing this, Zhang Hao immediately waved his hand: "Come on, let's go to the laboratory."

Soon, everyone came to the laboratory.

Zhang Hao, who was originally expecting, couldn't help but be a little disappointed after seeing the real face of the laboratory. To be honest, the laboratory in front of him is not even comparable to the laboratory of their mushroom plantation factory.

Silva saw that the consul had a bad face, so he quickly explained: "Consul, Brazil has been in chaos for more than ten years, and the talent has long since run away..."

"How was Sargassum ice algae developed?"

Zhang Hao interrupted directly.

Silva immediately pointed to a young female researcher in her early thirties and introduced:

"Consul, Sargasso ice algae was mainly independently developed by Professor Bella."

"What? She alone?"

Zhang Hao couldn't help being greatly surprised.

Professor Bella explained with a smile: "Consul, I think you have misunderstood, the hybridization of seaweed does not require a lot of advanced technology, but more of a bit of luck.

For example, isn't the famous hybrid rice independently developed by Academician Yuan?Compared with him, my success is nothing. "

Zhang Hao first apologized to the other party, and then asked enthusiastically: "Professor Bella, I am personally very interested in your Sargassum ice algae project, can you tell me in detail?"

"Okay, what do you want to know, Consul?"

"Is it possible for Sargassum ice algae to become a staple food?"

Zhang Hao said straightforwardly.

Professor Bella bowed his head and thought for a while, then nodded solemnly: "I think it is possible. Generally speaking, to become a staple food, four conditions must be met at the same time."

"First, it can fill people's stomachs, that is, it has high starch content. Sargassum is the seaweed with the highest starch content, and it fully has this potential;
Second, it can be planted on a large scale, which is completely in line with this one. After all, the vast ocean provides almost unlimited fertile land, which is more advantageous than land;
Third, the yield is high. Although sargassum is not the seaweed species with the highest yield, it is much better than the general staple food. The key is that the cultivation threshold is low.

The last one is convenient for transportation, storage and processing, and there is no doubt that this one can also be satisfied. "

Zhang Hao was immediately overjoyed. He didn't expect the potential of ice algae to be so great: "Professor Bella, according to your estimation, when will ice algae meet the requirements and become a veritable staple food?"

"Consul, you are too happy. It is very difficult to continue to increase the starch content of Sargassum ice algae. This process cannot be solved by luck alone. It takes time to accumulate."

Professor Bella poured a basin of cold water directly.

Zhang Hao quickly calmed down: "Okay, I want to know, how long will this process take?"

"It will take hundreds of years, at least decades, and due to the limitations of Sargassum ice algae, it is impossible to completely replace the staple food, at most it can only be used as a supplement."

Professor Bella said simply.

"Supplementation is fine. It's better than eating grass. As long as the relative cost is cheaper than the staple food, we can start to expand the planting scale now." Zhang Hao said decisively.

Upon hearing this, Silva in the crowd blushed with excitement.

Professor Bella frowned, and quickly persuaded: "Consul, the current ice algae is specially developed for the production of bio-ethanol, and there is still a long way to go before consumption. I suggest delaying the promotion."

"What do you mean? Isn't the ice algae edible?" Zhang Hao didn't understand.

"The meaning is very simple. The nutritional value of ice algae is very low. Even if you eat ten catties a day, the starch content is far from enough for the body, so it is not suitable for consumption.

To put it bluntly, it is really only a little stronger than weeds. Instead of blindly expanding the scale of planting, it is better to improve Sargassum ice algae. "

Professor Bella told the truth without any concealment.

Silva couldn't help interjecting: "Consul, even if Sargassum ice algae is not suitable for consumption, it can still be used to produce ethanol, and it is not useless.

What's more, only when the scale of planting increases, can we choose better varieties, which is how our previous improvement results were achieved. "

Zhang Hao turned his head to look at Professor Bella: "Professor Bella, is Mr. Silva right?"

"I don't think it's necessary, the current sample size is sufficient."

Professor Bella doesn't give the boss face at all.

Mr. Silva could only smile awkwardly.

Zhang Hao nodded thoughtfully, and then dug a corner face to face: "Professor Bella, are you interested in working in the capital? There are also many seaweed planting bases in the entire metropolitan area."

"Sorry, I have no intention of leaving Brazil for the time being. The scientific research environment in the capital may be better, but the conditions here are not bad, and it will not affect my research."

Professor Bella declined.

Mr. Silva breathed a sigh of relief.

……

After leaving the laboratory, the group went to sea on a warship.

The planting method of Sargassum algae is actually very simple. Use two buoys to fix a long nylon rope, and then install a few plant growth lights in the middle of the rope. The bottom of the rope is used to hang Sargassum ice algae.

"Professor Bella, how long is the growth cycle of ice algae?"

Zhang Hao asked casually.

"It depends on the situation. The warmer the sea, the shorter the growth cycle. Taking our place as an example, it usually takes [-] months to reach the harvesting conditions."

Professor Bella replied.

"Two and a half years? So long?"

"Actually, it's pretty good. Antarctic ice algae generally have a growth cycle of three to five years. Sargassum is less, but it takes eleven months."

Zhang Hao turned to look at the factory owner: "Mr. Silva, did you encounter any difficulties during the breeding process?"

"Of course, the biggest difficulty is fungal infection. In order to ensure the seawater environment, the breeding density should not be too high, and it is best to be close to ocean currents.

In recent years, the quality of seawater in the offshore has become worse and worse, and we have to expand to the deep sea.

In fact, the best breeding sea area should be near the equator, but we don't have this condition at present, and we can't compete with those big breeding companies. "

Mr. Silva took the opportunity to complain.

"The equator is very long and can accommodate all of you." Zhang Hao was not moved at all.

"Consul, although the equator is long, there are very few places close to land."

Mr. Silva couldn't help reminding.

Zhang Hao said meaningfully: "Your company's economic strength is strong, and it is absolutely possible to order a few more large ships. I can help with this."

"Consul, we ordered five workboats a few years ago, but we've been waiting in line."

Mr. Silva was overjoyed in his heart.

Zhang Hao nodded, and promised on the spot: "You tell me the shipbuilding company later, and I will call you personally to remind you."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much."

Mr. Silva quickly thanked.

Zhang Hao waved his hand, and then led Tang Weimu and Silva into a separate room, preparing for a closed-door meeting.

Tang Weimu was a little apprehensive: "Consul, what are you?"

"There are no outsiders here, and there will be no meeting minutes. The three of us can talk freely."

Zhang Hao explained casually.

Tang Weimu immediately probed carefully: "Consul, what do you want to talk about?"

"I want to talk about bootlegging."

Zhang Hao cut to the chase.

Tang Weimu suddenly showed a flustered look on his face, and hurriedly argued: "Consul, it's not that I don't want to solve it, it's just that I have more energy than I want."

Sure enough, the bad premonition came true. What should come will come after all, so we can't take chances.

"Hmph, I don't think you are powerless, but you are reluctant to part with those huge benefits."

Zhang Hao directly exposed the opponent's background.

Tang Weimu spread his hands and said with a wry smile: "Consul, I believe you have seen the situation in Rio de Janeiro. Without these benefits, the city would not be able to maintain the current situation."

"I know you have difficulties, that's why I didn't ask you to take responsibility when I came up. Fortunately, you knew how to measure and didn't let bootleg alcohol flood the mainland."

"Consul, thank you for your understanding and for giving us another chance."

Tang Weimu's attitude of admitting his mistakes was very sincere.

With Rio de Janeiro's size, he didn't dare to challenge the central government at all, and he was so stupid that he ruined his future.

Zhang Hao took a sip of tea: "Tell me, how do you plan to solve the problem of bootlegging? You can control it now, but it doesn't mean that you will be safe in the future."

Tang Weimu pouted secretly.

Who cares what happens next?
Anyway, after finishing this term, he will definitely be transferred back to the mainland, and he will not be affected at all.

"Consul, do you think this is okay? It is basically impossible to ban bootlegging in a short period of time. Even if it can be done, the sequelae are not something we can afford.

My idea is to gradually reduce the production of moonshine by a tenth every year, and take ten years to completely solve this problem. What do you think? "

Anyway, it is all kinds of procrastination, leaving this difficult problem to the next one.

"The plan is pretty good." Zhang Hao nodded, and then changed the topic: "However, the difficulties you mentioned just now do exist. If the finances suddenly drop sharply, it will definitely affect the stability of the entire South America."

"Then what is your solution, consul?"

Tang Weimu was a little confused about the big leader's thoughts.

Zhang Hao patted the table again: "Levy taxes and greatly raise the price of bootleg alcohol. In this way, the goal of prohibiting alcohol can also be achieved."

"tax?"

Tang Weimu's heart skipped a beat, this is a plan that has the best of both worlds.

"Yes." Zhang Hao glanced at Mr. Silva next to him, and continued: "Directly levy taxes on seaweed planting factories, and solve the problem from the source."

Mr. Silva, who was already sweating coldly, couldn't sit still after hearing this: "Consul, please hold your hands high. We don't actually earn much, and the bulk of our money has been taken away by others."

"Don't worry, you just pass the cost on to the downstream ethanol producers. I assure you, no one dares to mess around."

Zhang Hao comforted him with a smile.

"But……"

Mr. Silva looked hesitant.

If only things were that simple.

Zhang Hao stood up, walked over and patted the other person on the shoulder: "Mr. Silva, I don't speak secretly, I actually have great expectations for your ponytail ice algae project.

I hope you can pay attention to this point, increase R&D investment as much as possible, completely get rid of the gray industrial chain, and become a veritable high-tech company. "

"Consul, you think too highly of us."

Mr. Silva is not a business novice.

In any case, the transformation is very risky. It is impossible for him to just rely on a few words from the other party and dare to take down most of his net worth. This is too unwise.

Zhang Hao obviously knew this too, he knew that the other party would not throw a hawk if he didn't see a rabbit.

So he promised on the spot: "Mr. Silva, I can't guarantee more, but your company will definitely have a place in next year's 'Forward Plan'."

"Really?" Mr. Silva's eyes widened.

You must know that any company that enters the "Forward-looking Plan" will definitely receive the full support of the Federation, and will be fully guaranteed in terms of funds and talents, so there is no need to worry about bankruptcy.

To give a well-known example, Sugon New Energy Company, which was also selected into the "Forward-looking Plan", suffered huge losses every year, but never worried about money. Several state-owned banks took turns to escort it.

If he can really enter the "Forward-looking Project", his own JBS company will definitely undergo a radical change, and it also means that he has already stepped into the core circle of the entire Federation.

ps: Ask for recommended tickets and monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)