Agricultural giant since 1983

Chapter 343 Coconut Tree Group
After eating, rested for a while, and adjusted his state, Li Lei took Lin Weimin and Yang Huineng to Nannong's experimental field in Hainan, and met Professor Gai, "Professor Gai, I have admired you for a long time, and I have heard of your name for a long time. I've always wanted to visit, but I didn't get the chance until now! I hope you don't think I'm presumptuous!"

"There, I also heard Academician Yuan and Deng Hai talk about you during the meeting. They said that you are the God of Wealth in our domestic agricultural research field! Over the years, I don't know how much you have donated to domestic research institutions. How much money and equipment!" Professor Gai also welcomed Li Lei's arrival very much, who doesn't like the God of Wealth in research?And it was the God of Wealth who told him in advance that he would be subsidized.

"Hi teacher, I haven't seen you for a few years, you have more gray hair, you have to take care of your body!" Lin Weimin greeted Professor Gai with concern immediately when he saw him.

"Has it been three years since you graduated? Although you have published some articles in the past three years, the level is not enough. In the past, it could be said that there was a shortage of funds. Now that you have followed Li Dong, there is no excuse for this. You must grasp this. This is the next chance to produce results as soon as possible!" Professor Gai has very strict requirements for his students, "I have also visited Huinong's breeding base in Hainan, and the conditions there are much better than mine. Such good conditions It would be a pity if we can’t do it.”

"I will work hard! Teacher, our boss also brought some equipment to you this time. Do you want to accept it first?" Lin Weimin agreed, and then together with the staff, he brought the computer, PCR instrument, etc. that Li Lei sent It took some time to lift the equipment out of the car and install the equipment, it might as well come faster.

"Thank you so much, I'm a little embarrassed!" Professor Gai said some polite words, but he felt that this was too hypocritical. He really needed these devices. After receiving the devices, he brought Li Lei and others to his office. Seriously chatted about the cooperation between the two parties.

Lin Weimin had already told him about the content of the cooperation on the phone, and Professor Gai was ready to agree in his heart. This time, he mainly talked about the details. "In 1988, NR Apuya and others used restricted fragment length polymorphism in soybeans. The world's first soybean genetic map was constructed as a genetic marker; in 1990, Keim et al. used the F2 segregation population of cultivated soybean and wild soybean to construct the first linkage map containing 150 RFLP markers. These achievements deepened people's understanding of the genetic characteristics of soybean It has become a powerful tool for molecular breeding of soybeans, but unfortunately, due to various reasons, our country started this program many years later than foreign countries!"

"Due to the recommendation of the Human Genome Project, the cost of gene sequencing has also been decreasing year by year, but it is still a bit expensive for us, so the domestic soybean genetic map is progressing slowly! According to the previous speed, we have mapped China's soybean genetic map. The first molecular genetic map of soybeans in China will be 10 years later than that of foreign countries at the earliest, and the number and density of markers are definitely not as good as those of foreign countries. Speed ​​up!" Professor Gai didn't say how much it can be accelerated, it depends on how much funds and equipment Li Lei can provide.

Li Lei asked about the project's funding needs and said, "That's good. From this year onwards, I will donate 100 million to the project team every year, and I will make additional additions based on the results achieved by the project team. Do you think this is enough?" ?”

These basic studies do not seem to bring direct economic benefits to Huinong in the short term, but they are the foundation of soybean breeding. The more thorough the understanding of soybean genetic composition, the more efficient soybean breeding can be completed. Therefore, this The money must be spent, or else you will be hanged by Monsanto.

Professor Gai was stunned for a moment. Research funding in the agricultural field has always been very small. Mr. Yuan only had tens of thousands of dollars a year in the 80s. It was not until the late 80s that the two-line hybrid rice was listed as a major project in the biological field of the national "863" plan. The special project only received 1 million yuan a year, but these funds were not given to him alone, but shared with more than 1000 research institutions across the country. Li Lei now gives a yearly quota of 20 million yuan, which is definitely beyond the limit The professor's expectations, he even wondered if he heard it wrong.

"Enough is enough, absolutely enough, with so much money, I am absolutely confident that I can catch up with Apuya's progress within two years, and draw a map of the same level as Keim within three years!" Professor Gai started to fight excitedly after confirming Trembling, when did he fight such a rich battle!

"Okay, I'll have the legal and financial affairs come over tomorrow, and I'll send the money as soon as the agreement is signed!" Li Lei had already asked people to prepare these.

"No problem, I have already reported it to my superiors, and they are very supportive of this matter." Professor Gai needs to obtain permission from his superiors if he wants to cooperate with Huinong. Fortunately, this kind of money-giving cooperation has no reason at all. Objected, as for the things Li Lei wanted, they could accept them. If they gave money, could they not give some benefits?

Then the two sides continued to chat about the details of the cooperation. Under the guidance of Li Lei, the topic gradually shifted from soybean sequencing to domestic soybean varieties, "As far as I know, Monsanto found some wild soybean samples from Shanghai that year, and they have been in the field for many years. Analyze these samples, try to find valuable gene sequences, and then register these gene sequences as patents. Once they are successfully applied for, all soybeans carrying this marker gene, whether it is wild soybeans or cultivated soybeans, and even transgenic plants The genetic sequence is not allowed to be used."

"We should have this kind of soybean in our seed resource bank, right? I want Xiao Lin to try his hand with this kind of soybean and see if he can find something interesting!" Li Lei planned to intercept Hu Mengshan, and he had something in his mind about this kind of soybean. For Lin Weimin to search for information on the genetic sequence of this species, it is equivalent to looking at marker chess to clear mines. It is definitely much easier to find than Monsanto. Monsanto did not find this gene sequence closely related to high-yield performance until 2000. Li Lei still has more than four years. Time can get ahead of them.

"The situation you mentioned is very likely to happen. In the mid-50s, cyst nematode disease appeared in soybeans in [-] states in the United States. Finally, the disease resistance gene was found from the 'BJ Little Black Bean' from our country, and then The disease-resistant soybeans were bred by crossbreeding 'BJ Little Black Bean' with other soybeans, which led to the rapid recovery of American soybeans." Professor Gai is very familiar with the history of soybean breeding in the United States, "I also have the impression of what you said, I will go back and check The information should be able to find out what kind of soybeans Monsanto got, and then find the same soybeans from the seed resource bank for your research, I hope you can make achievements ahead of Monsanto!"

It is not easy for ordinary people to get samples from the National Seed Resource Bank. As the leader of soybean research in China, it is much easier for Professor Gai to do this. Li Lei still remembers many high-quality gene fragments of domestic wild soybeans. Make one or two results, and then ask him for other wild soybean samples. With so many future generations in his mind, coupled with sufficient funds, he is confident to attack Monsanto.

"Our country has the largest variety of soybean varieties in the world. Many wild soybeans are precious resources. These resources should be controlled to prevent them from easily flowing into the hands of foreign research institutions or companies, or they will use them from our country's wild soybeans. The results obtained will suppress our country's soybean industry!" Li Lei reminded.

This is also a painful lesson. In 2000, Monsanto visited China. During the parting and exchanging of gifts during the inspection, Monsanto gave China a genetically modified soybean, and China also politely gave back a wild soybean. Monsanto got this After the wild soybeans, technology was used immediately to detect the high-yield and disease-resistant genes of this wild soybean species, and to carry out genetic markers, and then to register patents around the world. From now on, other companies can no longer use this wild soybean species in their own soybean varieties. kind of gene.

The wild soybean Li Lei in Shanghai did not have time to stop it. In 2000, there was still a chance to save it. Now I remind Professor Xia Gai that when Monsanto comes to China for inspection in the future, if he makes a similar request, he probably won’t get the same one again. Done.

"It's a bit difficult. The distribution of wild soybeans in our country is very wide. Some of them are not well understood by us. It is almost impossible to completely control them. However, the existing wild soybean seeds must be restricted from exporting." Professor Gai thought I want to answer that he can't organize foreign companies to secretly collect wild soybean seeds in the wilderness, but he can interfere with those in the national seed bank.

"This is enough! Although the distribution of wild soybeans is wide, it is not easy for others to find!" Li Lei is already satisfied. It is even more difficult for Monsanto to find resources that we cannot control ourselves. Even if they can find it, these soybeans may not necessarily contain the gene fragments they need.

"Hey, the main thing is that we have to do the work well first. If we can map out the genetic pedigree of all soybeans, then this small problem will be nothing!" Professor Gai also felt the pressure, obviously having such a rich variety of soybeans However, due to the limitation of resources, in-depth research cannot be carried out. Whenever he thinks of these, he feels distressed. Fortunately, with the funds supported by Li Lei, this work can finally be accelerated.

"Xiao Lin is a bit lonely working alone in the Northeast. Professor Gai, it would be even better if you can recommend a few more talented students!" After talking about donations and seeds, Li Lei talked about the issue of talents On the way here, he has told Lin Weimin that Li Lei will arrange for him to stay with Professor Gai for a period of time in the next few days, mainly responsible for reviewing the allocation of funds. At the same time, he can also use this opportunity to chat more with the researchers around Professor Gai. Let's talk and see if we can dig a few.

"I know the treatment of you Huinong. There are not many research institutions in the country that can match such good conditions! As long as you come to recruit, there must be people who want to go! I will call the school later and ask They will prepare several seminars for you, and you will arrange people to go there to explain the situation to the students, and it is up to you how many people you can recruit in the end!" Professor Gai made the arrangement, and now foreign companies and private companies go to universities to do lectures and recruit It is already a relatively common thing, and he also came up with a plan based on this situation.

"It must be a good thing that some students are willing to come here, but it would be even better if there are more experienced hands! Professor Gai, do you think that there are some students who are not comfortable in their original workplace? As the saying goes, Trees are moved, dead people are moved, maybe they can make some achievements when they come to benefit farmers?" Li Lei is not satisfied with just recruiting some students, Professor Gai can be said to be full of peaches and plums, and he must have more More advanced talents.

"No wonder you Huinong can do so well. You can see it from your desire for talents! Hey, if only all research institutions valued talents as much as you do!" Professor Gai sighed, really giving Li Lei recommended two talents, but he would not say more. After all, he is also a member of a national research institution, and it would be bad if he recruited more people.

Li Lei is not in a hurry, he doesn't want to say, he can ask Lin Weimin to ask his brothers and sisters, as long as they get their names and contact information, Huinong has plenty of ways to poach people. Huinong has come up with a set of mature and effective plans on how to dig out researchers in the system; as for whether the dug-out unit will be angry, Huinong also has a way, and if it’s a big deal, donate some money and equipment to them in the future. Pay them the transfer fee.

A few people chatted until around ten o'clock before going to rest. The next day Huinong's legal counsel brought the contract, and Professor Gai reviewed it and submitted it to the superior. As long as the superior approves it, the cooperation can officially start!

"I've already called several times. It's just a process over there, and the results will come soon!" Professor Gai repeatedly assured Li Lei that he wanted to see this cooperation come to fruition even more than Li Lei did. Who wouldn't be envious of the annual research funding of 100 million?This is also due to the fact that he is No. 1 in the field of domestic soybean research and can keep this funding, otherwise he should worry about other things.

"Don't worry, I haven't been to Hainan for a while. I just have a look at the research progress of other projects in the past few days. Maybe I can witness some good news!" Now the Daohuaxiang cultivated by Tian Yongtai is about to be harvested. If you are lucky , Li Lei can still bring a little past Chinese New Year.

Li Lei originally planned to concentrate on working in the breeding base for a few days, but the news that he came to Hainan spread rapidly, resulting in constant visits, including businessmen who came here admiringly, some local cadres looking for investment, and some with other thoughts Yes, most of the people Li Lei sent other people to receive them, but this day, after seeing the business cards of the visitors, Li Lei immediately decided to meet them in person, "Wang Guangxing from the Coconut Tree Group, it's nice to meet you!"

(End of this chapter)