Chapter 105: Desert Agriculture_1

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Since the concept of "independent integration mode" was proposed, many international collaborations have had a foundational framework.

For instance, the PDC's mainstream defense plan is a division of labor and cooperative effort among nations.

Although the selection of sites for the three space elevators involved political maneuvering, the three concurrently advancing project teams highly cooperated with each other.

After all, there wasn't even a reliable theoretical model for space elevators before, and now that construction is imminent, there's only the option to discuss and build concurrently.

Also, plans like the Wallfacer Project and seven others are cooperative ventures of the PDC council nations, and the results are shared by all.

Additionally, the Space Army is an example of a project "independently" completed but still has exchanges and referrals among each other.

This arrangement essentially separates the projects people want to work on together from those they wish to complete independently.

It prevents entanglements that could affect cooperative relationships.

As massive funds from all over the world were funneled into PDC's mainstream defense plan and various nations' independent projects, many unrelated aerospace engineering and space programs were discontinued.

This included a large number of agricultural projects, which made Jiang Yu's "Green Pastures Plan" project team a highly sought-after group by agricultural universities and research institutes.

In just a few days, over a dozen experts and scholars expressed their willingness to join the team.

Having returned from the military hospital, Jiang Yu held a small meeting for the dozen experts, laying out his requirements.

The experts eagerly spoke up, updating Jiang Yu on the current international research achievements in desert agriculture.

Currently, only a handful of countries and regions are experimenting with sand-based crops, but as Jiang Yu had previously understood, the cost is high, and the yield is low, with a significant portion of the cost being water requirements.

The most famous of these is the domestic sand apple, known not because it operates at a loss, but because it generates revenue.

However, similar varieties can not be planted in the desert, and they have high requirements for water and fertilizer.

No matter what you want to grow in the desert, water is the most crucial issue.

Crops need water, sunlight, and fertilizer to grow—this is the basic logic. It's hard for anything to grow in the desert because of the lack of water and nutrients.

It's not enough to use genetic modification to create a drought-resistant crop, as this only increases the survival rate of the crops.

If you want to cultivate on a large scale, you still need water and fertilizer.

There is a domestic desert forage project that fits Jiang Yu's requirements, but it can only produce forage, and the yield is relatively low.

Jiang Yu mused that if everyone could fill their stomachs by eating grass, this project would be quite good.

Jiang Yu then noticed a phenomenon, "Why are there so many desert agriculture projects in China, but so few abroad?"

An expert answered, "Our country has a large population, and the first problem to solve is food. Therefore, we must make good use of every inch of our land.

"In the eyes of us here, the desert is also our valuable asset."

Another expert explained, "India also has a large population, but their climatic conditions and arable land are uniquely advantageous, so there is hardly any food-related pressure.

"Developed countries focus more on industrializing, centralizing, mechanizing, and intelligentizing their grain production; it's rare for organizations or individuals to engage in this kind of business that is clearly unprofitable."

Jiang Yu nodded with a smile and said, "After talking with you all today, I realize that my understanding of desert agriculture was somewhat one-sided.

"So, please select a few feasible investigation projects, and we will visit and examine them together.

"It's best to visit the actual sites often before we proceed to the next steps."

Then Jiang Yu solemnly announced, "Now I declare the 'Green Pastures Plan' project team officially established. Tomorrow my assistant will arrange office space for everyone—feel free to make any requests!

"Let's have dinner together tonight to celebrate the establishment of our team."

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Let's give a round of applause to welcome them.

After sending off the experts from the project team, Jiang Yu returned to his office to carry out the operation he had been meticulously planning for the past two days.

While Di Fengyi was still at work, Jiang Yu suddenly declared he wanted to inspect the accounts and asked Di Fengyi to summon the finance team of the cultural company and the Wallfacer-exclusive financial team assigned by the PDC.

Jiang Yu briefly checked the accounts of the cultural company, then sighed, "Not profitable, huh!"

The financial director of the cultural company thought to himself, "When the company was founded, didn't you say that this wasn't a profit-making company? So after your capital was spent, we started taking government subsidies; why the change of heart now?"

Then Jiang Yu went through the motions of inspecting the accounts of the Wallfacer Plan. As he expected, due to the significant costs of various plans, his Wallfacer Plan currently only had initial funds.

Jiang Yu sighed, "Short on money, huh!"

The designated financier for the Wallfacer Plan quickly responded, "Whatever you need the money for, just say the word, and I'll raise it as quickly as possible."

Jiang Yu thought to himself, "You're so eager!"

However, he lamented, "Having money controlled by others always leaves one uneasy."

Everyone in the room dared not speak. The Wallfacer Plan had clear regulations: Wallfacers could not hold public office, nor own any profit-making institutions.

All expenses within the plan had to be audited by a dedicated person, to ensure that every penny was spent on the Wallfacer Plan.

Even if Wallfacers used plan funds to acquire assets, those belonged to the PDC; Wallfacers only had the right to use them but no ownership rights.

Wallfacer Jiang Yu seemed to care a lot about financial power, and who would dare to respond to that?

After sending the financiers out, Jiang Yu sat in his chair deep in thought. It took him fifteen minutes before he used his phone to call Shi Qiang over.

The two first chatted idly while smoking, then Jiang Yu said, "Da Shi, I need a favor."

Shi Qiang laughed, "Just give your orders, why bother with favors?"

Jiang Yu laughed along and said, "I can give direct orders to others, but it's different with you.

"Besides, I need you to do some dirty work, which is a bit uncomfortable for me."

Shi Qiang expressed his stance, "Just tell me what it is."

Jiang Yu asked, "Do you know Dou Weiying?"

"I've heard of her, a well-known female entrepreneur!"

Jiang Yu continued, "You also know the current situation; money is needed everywhere, and my plan now needs to start using substantial funds, but the government is rather strapped.

"I thought of starting with Dou Weiying to rally some private capital.

"Dou Weiying claims to have a high enthusiasm for new technologies, right? Let these high-quality entrepreneurs express their eagerness.

"It doesn't need to be much, just six, ah, ninety percent of her assets!"

Shi Qiang advised, "I've heard about your grievance with her, but now you're a Wallfacer; you can't be so petty!"

"What are you talking about? Am I that kind of person?" Jiang Yu laughed, appearing harmless.

Then he continued solemnly, "Dou Weiying and people like her had ties with ETO two years ago. Back then, due to the chaotic situation, they escaped legal punishment!

"Now it's time for them to face the people's judgment!"

Shi Qiang nodded, "Put that way, it sounds much more palatable!"