Dongxiao biological | From a grain of corn to milk tea "soul" founder

 Public network · Poster news

Editor's note: Here, precipitated thousands of years of history, a brick, a tile, a leaf, are carrying the thick years; There are thousands of years of civilization flowing here, a mountain, a river, a word, all contain cultural connotation; Here, the power accumulated for thousands of years, a moment, a frame and a painting, are bursting with upward vitality... Enter Shandong Weifang, looking for Weiyi, the only, the only! Dazhong Network ▪ Poster news, launched the blockbuster theme "Weifang ▪ One", visited the story behind the high-quality development of Weifang.

Whether it's poi bobo tea or golden coconut oolong; Whether it is Guifang LAN Xiang, or Yunling Jasmine white, holding a cup of milk tea seems to have become an indispensable part of today's pace of life. Perhaps little known, the "soul" of milk tea is called plant protein milk, and to our surprise, every three cups of milk tea in the country, there is a cup of the "soul" from here - Weifang Zhucheng.

In the past 20 years, 4 international invention patents, 15 scientific and technological achievements appraisal, 19 domestic invention patents, 21 participating in the formulation of standards at all levels, 25 utility model patents, 30 provincial science and technology projects...... Dongxiao biology, located in Zhucheng, Weifang, how to make a grain of corn worth 20 times? How to build a whole chain industry? And how to make the protein milk base powder the world's first in the industry... Public network reporter into the east Xiao, find out.

From "a Grain of Corn" to "a Kingdom"

DONGXIAO

At the beginning of 2000, synthetic biology emerged suddenly, began to appear in various academic journals at home and abroad and on the Internet, and gradually applied in medicine, agriculture, environmental protection and other aspects, as an emerging discipline, is attracting more and more attention from all walks of life. By 2004, synthetic biology was named "one of the top 10 new technologies that will change the world" by Technology Review, published by MIT.

This year, China's total grain output exceeded the expected target of 455 billion kilograms, successfully reversing the plight of grain production reduction for five consecutive years. Among them, the total output of corn was 122 million tons, an increase of 5.3% over the 2003 production.

As early as the 1990s, Weifang Zhucheng began to develop corn deep processing industry, and emerged a number of large-scale enterprises. In 2004, Wang Songjiang founded Zhucheng Dongxiao Biological Technology Co., LTD. (hereinafter referred to as Dongxiao Biological). With the opportunity of exploring and applying synthetic biology in China and greatly increasing corn production, he focused on the field of biological fermentation, using synthetic biology technology and fermentation technology to replace the relatively low technical threshold of biological chemical production.

In 2005, around the concept of "how to improve the added value of a grain of corn", Dongxiao Biological began to promote industrial construction, respectively in August and October 2006, maltose production line and glucose production line have been put into operation, completing the production layout of corn primary processing.

In the early stage, it was mainly based on the primary processing of corn starch and sugar, with low technical threshold for raw material production and low added value of products, which could not meet the needs of market diversification. As a result, Dongxiao Biological quickly changed the way of thinking, in December 2009, the sorbitol production line was completed and put into operation, and the use of green biological fermentation, food nutrition and flavor precision deployment, modern separation and purification technology and other processes, in product development and industrial chain extension to continue to explore ahead. Subsequently, erythritol, maltitol, amino acids and other series of products came into being.

"A grain of corn starts from threshing, decomposed into starch, and then through the extension of the industrial chain to form starch sugar (alcohol), amino acids, plant fat powder, sodium gluconate, erythritol and other dozens of high value-added products." East Xiao biological staff introduction.

From corn to malt syrup, maltodextrin and then to plant protein milk based powder, thritol, maltitol, etc., the price of corn after deep processing has increased by 5 to 20 times, and the resulting product categories cover solid drinks, new sugar substitutes, dietary fiber, animal nutrition, starch sugars (alcohols), organic acids and so on.

Continuously extend the industrial chain, enhance the industrial chain, Dongxiao biology with keen market insight and promote the continuous upgrading of the industry innovation, to achieve the transformation from single product competition to industry chain competition. In the continuous extension and expansion of product categories at the same time, Dongxiao biological production capacity has also risen significantly, and the prototype of a "corn kingdom" is rising.

At present, Dongxiao Biological not only has the world's largest plant protein milk based powder production base, and the production of erythrolitol and sodium gluconate market share ranks among the top three in Asia, and has become the first domestic erythrolitol production enterprise that has passed the on-site quality and safety audit of Coca-Cola.

"Protein milk based powder is currently on the market more hot a 'star product', it is commonly known as' plant fat powder ', is based on glucose syrup, milk powder, oil as raw materials, through the precise preparation, cutting, homogenization and other processes produced, because it can be added to the drink can make the taste become smooth and mellow, but also enhance the flavor, so it has become a common raw material in milk tea." Explained Jiang Zhigang, director of protein milk based powder workshop of Dongxiao Biotechnology Co., LTD.

In 2021, the production of Dongxiao biological plant fat final has reached 160,000 tons, with a domestic market share of more than 50%, ranking first in the country, and there are numerous well-known tea brands using Dongxiao biological products. Today, in every 3 cups of milk tea in the country, 1 cup of the "0 trans fatty acid plant fat powder" used comes from Dongxiao.

Core technology to create industrial characteristics system

DONGXIAO

The concept of fashionable and healthy consumption has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, and people have put forward new requirements for health while pursuing delicious food. "The erythritol we developed, which is now the hot '0 calorie sugar', can well meet people's sweet demand for sugar-free products. Compared with traditional xylitol, erythritol is made from corn starch and fermented by microorganisms, and the whole process is green and environmentally friendly." Dongxiao biological research and development director Wang Jianbin said.

Because erythitol is a naturally occurring substance, extremely safe, zero calorie characteristics interpret the concept of "0 calorie sugar", as a sweetener for sugar-free drinks, it can be said that you can have your cake and eat it.

To make the transition from glucose syrup to erythritol, you need a strain.

In May 2015, Dongxiao Biological Research and Development Center was completed and put into use. In the synthetic biology research and development area, not only is equipped with various high-end instruments such as PCR meters, but its core secrets "strains" are hidden in this area, and other employees are not allowed to enter except those who are specifically responsible for strain breeding.

Wang Jianbin revealed that these strains are not only the "chip" of the biological manufacturing industry, but also the core technology for the survival of enterprises. It is by seizing the opportunity of synthetic biology that Dongxiao Biology has been able to seize the initiative in the market and establish its characteristic production road system in the field of biological fermentation.

Dongxiao Biology has built an industry-leading molecular biology laboratory, through the directional transformation of microorganisms, the micron level cells into efficient micro-factories, and finally, the mature technology in the laboratory is applied to industrial production, and then the process hidden in the product is converted into visible productivity.

"The product is a lock, and the microorganism is the key to unlock it. The mature utilization of microorganisms is the way to unlock, and the modification of microbial characteristics is also a way. This modification is called genetic modification." Wang Jianbin told reporters that Dongxiao Biology has an industry-leading laboratory to improve the efficiency of the reaction between microorganisms and nutrients through the transformation of microorganisms.

Science and technology are the primary productive forces. In order to complete the technical "breakthrough", the talent team is the core element. Dongxiao Biological research and development team of more than 100 people, has cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qilu University of Technology, East China University of Science and Technology and other universities and research institutes, established a set of "production, learning, research" as one of the innovation system, so that new technologies, new processes, new products from "laboratory" to "production line".

At the same time, the creation of four provincial R&D platforms, always adhere to scientific and technological innovation to lead the development of enterprises, and continue to make efforts in technology research and development and innovation.

Because of this, Dongxiao Biology has achieved good results in terms of technological breakthroughs. The cooperation project "Research and Development and Industrialization of Key Technologies for efficient production of L-lysine" won the first prize of Science and Technology Progress Award of China Light Industry Federation; "Research and Development and Industrialization of Key Technologies for the Construction of high-yield Strains of Dietary Essential Amino Acids" technology won the First Prize of Provincial Science and Technology Progress......

At the Weifang Two Sessions in 2024, Li Tiangang, a member of the Weifang CPPCC and secretary of the Board of Directors of Dongxiao Biology, put forward the proposal of "promoting industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation and accelerating the forging of new advantages of industrial competition", and strive to promote the innovation breakthrough of core technologies in the field of synthetic biology.

The whole chain industry becomes the "trump card" based on the industry

DONGXIAO

As a national key leading enterprise of agricultural industrialization with an annual deep processing of 1.6 million tons of corn, Dongxiao Biology has expanded the feed additive industry under the operation of the whole industrial chain. Relying on synthetic biotechnology to create lysine, valine, isoleucine and other products can effectively improve the nutritional value and utilization rate of feed, and promote the growth and development of animals. Reducing the incidence of disease has become a veritable secret weapon in the breeding industry.

In 2023, in order to guide the feed farming industry to use scientific materials, reduce the amount of soybean meal, and promote conservation and consumption reduction, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs launched the implementation of the 3-year feed soybean meal reduction action, which has brought a broader application space for amino acid products with lower cost and higher conversion rate.

Wang Jianbin introduced that the production conditions of amino acids are extremely strict, and it is necessary to strictly control the time, pH value and temperature to ensure the quality and output of products. Once the fermentation environment is not stable, it may lead to the failure of the whole fermentation process.

As early as 2010, in order to continue to achieve the leading results achieved by Dongxiao Biology in the field of research and development, and strengthen the advantages of the whole industrial chain with scale, Dongxiao Biology has launched the investment layout of Longguang Thermal Power Company and source generation, effectively ensuring the self-sufficiency and stable supply of electricity, steam and corn in the production and operation, and realizing the supply of raw materials, production and research and development, personnel security. Export trade and e-commerce sales of the whole industrial chain layout. The "self-sufficiency" of the industrial chain has become another "trump card" for Dongxiao to gain a foothold in the industry.

At the same time, Dongxiao through the procurement of raw materials, transportation, transformation and other links to control the cost and increase efficiency, successfully avoid the negative effects of price fluctuations on production.

The guarantee of reserve force, mechanization, automation, large-scale production and cutting-edge new product research and development, together build the competitive advantage of Dongxiao biological products, from raw material supply, production and research and development, personnel security, export trade and e-commerce operations, have the ability to complete all supporting services. The "self-sufficiency" of the industrial chain has become another "trump card" for Dongxiao to gain a foothold in the industry.

In March 2024, the 19th AgroWorld Uzbekistan 2024 International Agricultural Exhibition was held in Tashkent, with a number of products such as arginine, valine, thonine, corn protein powder, and spout corn husks presented at the exhibition.

The exhibition is the largest agricultural industry exhibition in Uzbekistan, with the participation of international exhibitors from Turkey, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, France, the Netherlands and other countries every year. With diversified product solutions and professional and high-quality services, Dongxiao Biological has been favored by many overseas customers, and once again demonstrated its leading strength in animal nutrition products to the world.

The chairman personally led a team to Shanghai to expand merchants

DONGXIAO

According to reports, at present, Dongxiao has established a worldwide sales network. China has set up five domestic sales branches in Northeast, North, East, Central and South China, and its products sell well in more than 20 provinces. Foreign exports to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, America and other more than 100 countries and regions. At the same time, it has established long-term and stable cooperative relations with well-known domestic and foreign enterprises such as Nestle Group, Heinz Group, Unilever and Cargill Group, and achieved an output value of 10 billion yuan.

In order to further expand the overseas market, Dongxiao Biological relying on the foreign trade advantages of Qingdao established the Qingdao export Department, more than 40% of the products are exported to the world through Qingdao every year. As the global core customer of COSCO Shipping, Dongxiao has ranked first in the shipment of "Qingdao Port" for many consecutive years.

On March 20, the 27th China International Food Additives and Ingredients Exhibition opened in Shanghai. Wang Songjiang, chairman of Dongxiao Biotechnology Co., LTD., personally led the team to negotiate with domestic and foreign customers and explore domestic and foreign markets.

Under the global trend of sugar reduction, people are no longer satisfied with a single, fixed taste for sugar-free foods, but pursue a more diversified and personalized taste experience. At the exhibition, Dongxiao Biology conducted in-depth exchanges with other enterprises on the innovative formula of solid drinks and the healthy combination of dietary fiber in the leading industry, collided the sparks of thinking, and provided R&D ideas and market opportunities for more enterprises.

For the market, Li Tiangang said that as the "stall economy" continues to heat up, more and more people are willing to go to the stall to realize the entrepreneurial ideal, and many small shops or mobile stalls mainly rely on the sales of baking products and milk tea products. At present, Dongxiao mainly through e-commerce sales to reach cooperation with such scattered customers, although different from a single order of dozens of tons, or even hundreds of tons of bulk orders, but the overall sales volume is still relatively considerable.

"In recent years, a 'milk tea fever' has rapidly swept the country, and large and small milk tea shops have emerged and piled up on street corners. Protein milk based powder, as an essential raw material for making milk tea, has a vast blue ocean of trading." Some young people who are keen on DIY homemade drinks will also increasingly become Dongxiao's customer group.

Low-carbon production to build green factory DONGXIAO

Wang Jie, vice chairman and secretary-general of China Biological Fermentation Industry Association, said when visiting Dongxiao Biological that the association will continue to take the high-quality development of the industry as the direction, build a green manufacturing system, cultivate and promote the development of industrial clusters, at the same time, will actively build a cooperation platform to promote the deepening of exchanges and cooperation between enterprises, and provide help and support for the high-quality development of Dongxiao Biological. While creating economic benefits, Dongxiao Biology takes into account social and ecological benefits, and actively implements the "double carbon" strategy by improving technology and improving the management level of renewable resources. With green design as the concept, green manufacturing as the means, to achieve the perfect combination of design and manufacturing, and strive to achieve the national "carbon peak, carbon neutral" strategic goals, for the industry's high quality, sustainable development to provide scientific and efficient, replicable, can promote the new model of Dongxiao Biology.

In October 2018, Dongxiao Biological was identified as a "green factory" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and in November 2022, it was identified as a "Industrial product Green Design Demonstration Enterprise" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. National key leading enterprises, national high-tech enterprises, China well-known trademarks, National Ministry of Industry and Information Technology "green factory"...... With the support of a series of heavyweight labels, Dongxiao Biological has now developed into a leading global biological fermentation industry enterprise with the whole industry chain of "upstream to ensure raw material supply, midstream to strengthen product research and development and technical process improvement, and downstream to build channels and customer barriers". On July 20, 2023, Dongxiao Biology won the honor of China's Top 200 Light Industry, China's Top 100 Light Industry Science and Technology, and China's Top 50 Light Industry Food Industry, and was shortlisted for four consecutive years; In November 2023, Dongxiao Biology was awarded the Weifang Mayor Quality Award.

With scientific and technological innovation as the core, Dongxiao Biology continues to make breakthroughs in technology, find a balance between economic development and low-carbon environmental protection, and promote the industry towards high-tech, efficient and high-quality direction to become an important force point of Dongxiao in the future.

Although synthetic biology started relatively late in China, the relatively complete industrial system provides solid support for the landing of the industrial chain. Dr. Zhang Haoqian, one of the earliest graduates in the field of synthetic biology in China, said that Chinese enterprises are combining local advantages and constantly penetrating the level of innovation, and the future of synthetic biology is definitely in China. Dongxiao is interpreting with practical actions, perhaps, this "future" is in Weifang, Shandong province. (Intern Reporter Niu Gu-yong, Poster News, Dawei, 张祎珺)