"Cash crop?" Wu Hao asked with interest.
Yang Fang nodded and said: "Yes, the desertification prevention and control project is huge, and it is difficult for an individual or a group of people to do it alone. We must mobilize the people and let everyone participate together, so that the power of many people is strong."
Although there are many public welfare desertification control and tree planting projects now, and they have achieved good results, they are still too small and cannot fundamentally solve the current situation of poverty of the local people.
Therefore, we believe that only by mobilizing the enthusiasm of local people and allowing them to exert their own strength can we not only get rid of local poverty, but also achieve good desertification prevention and control effects.
Judging from our country's agricultural product import data in recent years, our country has become the world's largest consumer of agricultural product imports and the largest consumer of meat products.
The strong demand for meat products has also stimulated the development of the domestic breeding industry. The booming development of the breeding industry has also led to the development of the feed industry, especially green feed and concentrated feed.
Like the Central Plains, many places have given up growing grain and started growing green fodder.
The northwest region is an important gathering place for minority ethnic minorities in our country. It is also a traditional animal husbandry area and has a long history in animal husbandry.
Of course, it is also because the livestock industry is relatively developed, which leads to the degradation of grassland vegetation, thus accelerating desertification.
The two seemed very contradictory, so we were wondering if we could combine the two. It can not only develop animal husbandry, help local people get rid of poverty and become rich, but also plant trees and prevent and fix sand. "
"This conflict has lasted in this area for thousands of years, and it has become more and more acute. I'm afraid it will be difficult to resolve." Wu Hao couldn't help but sigh after hearing this.
"Yes, but it is not that there are no solutions." Yang Fang nodded and said: "The conflicts in the past were sharp, mainly because the people had outdated ideas, lacked scientific awareness, and did not understand the harm of fishing from the lake.
And now we are doing two things at the same time at the beginning of doing this. How much pasture to plant and how many sheep to raise. How much silage is there and how many livestock are raised.
The more livestock there are, the more money people make, which will encourage them to plant larger areas of pasture. This will promote desertification control, prevent and stabilize sand, and gradually green the area.
Moreover, the reason why the desert is barren is not only due to drought, but also related to the barren desert soil. The planting of these crop pastures is conducive to improving the desert soil.
In this way, even if these people no longer raise livestock in the future, the improved soil will be more conducive to the growth of plants, thereby achieving the goal of thoroughly controlling desertification. "
After hearing Yang Fang's introduction, Zou Xiaodong couldn't help but said: "The idea is good, but it may be difficult to realize it.
First of all, no matter what kind of crop it is, it needs water. Large-scale sand control and sand fixation require large amounts of water. Everyone knows the drought in the Northwest, so how to get so much water.
The second problem is that whether it is gene editing or transgenic plants, there is currently insufficient evidence to prove that they are safe and will not cause harm to animals, humans, and the biological chain.
Whether the genetically modified crops you cultivate can be accepted by the public or even approved is a question. "
Hearing Zou Xiaodong's words, Yang Fang nodded calmly and said with a smile: "You are right, this is indeed the issue that everyone is most concerned about at the moment, and it is also the question that we are asked the most.
First of all, the first question is that the shortage in the northwest is a fact, and this is also the fundamental purpose of our project.
The purpose of our project is to cultivate drought-tolerant plants suitable for desert growth. If there is no shortage of water, then what is the point of continuing our project.
As for genetically modified technology, this is what everyone is most concerned about. However, from a scientific point of view, genetically modified technology is still safe, but people are a little too demonized about genetically modified technology.
In fact, we have all eaten genetically modified foods more or less, such as genetically modified cooking oil, genetically modified grains, and genetically modified vegetables.
Transgenic technology has been developed for decades and is now relatively mature. Moreover, scientists and biological naturalists have been observing the impact of genetically modified plants on nature. Currently, there is no concrete evidence to prove that it causes harm to nature and the entire biological chain.
In fact, what we are doing is more like a genetic hybridization technology, which hybridizes and fuses the characteristics or attributes of multiple plants. All genes come from these plants themselves, so what's the harm?
As for whether it can be approved, this must be considered comprehensively by weighing the pros and cons. If the drought-tolerant plants we cultivate can prevent wind and sand, and control deserts, I believe it will not be difficult to get approval. "
"So, do you think we can make a profit from this? You must know that we are a company, not a charity. With so much investment, we must still want to make a profit. How can you guarantee this." Zou Xiaodong asked.
Yang Fang shook her head and said: "I am a scientist. I don't understand company management, and I can't guarantee whether it will be profitable. What I can do is fulfill my promise and cultivate excellent drought-tolerant plants. As for how to operate it, this It depends on the company’s operations.”
Hearing Yang Fang's words, Zou Xiaodong was about to say something more, but was interrupted by Wu Hao: "Okay, what we have to do now is to cultivate these drought-tolerant plants. As for how to operate it, we need to think about it. .”
Indeed, how to operate this is also a problem. After investing so much, if it cannot make a profit by then, it will have a great impact on the company.
Of course, Wu Hao is also confident in this project.
Take the drought-tolerant moso bamboo mentioned by Yang Fang before as an example. If it is successfully cultivated, the breeding alone can bring them huge profits every year. Secondly, there is the value of these drought-resistant moso bamboos. For example, they are absolutely ideal raw materials for making paper. Moreover, the state also provides subsidies for this kind of artificial forest, as well as carbon sink benefits, etc. Overall, the benefits are very good.
Of course, the biggest benefit is the effectiveness of desertification control. In this way, Wu Hao and others will also accumulate huge social prestige, which is conducive to the positive and green image of their company.
Moreover, the actual investment in a biological project like this is not high. The biggest cost should be the salary of the researchers.
Therefore, in Wu Hao's view, this project may seem a bit whimsical, but it is actually quite feasible, or at least has great development prospects.
