How can a single kernel of ordinary corn break free from the limitations of selling raw grain to achieve a multiplied value? Leveraging its resource advantages as a "National Advanced County in Grain Production" and a "Major National Grain-Producing County," Kailu County in Tongliao City is driving the transformation of its corn industry from primary processing to sophisticated intelligent manufacturing. By empowering agglomeration through leading enterprises and tackling technological innovation, corn is being turned into a "golden raw material" for high-end pharmaceuticals and food additives, establishing a comprehensive, green, low-carbon, and high-value-added corn bio-industry system.
On June 10, a visit to Inner Mongolia Yuwang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. revealed its 250,000-ton annual lysine project undergoing trial production. On the intelligent central control screen, various data points are updated in real-time, enabling fully automated and precise control throughout the process. Inside the production workshop, precision procedures like fermentation and extraction operate in an orderly manner, transforming corn starch through deep processing into lysine products widely used in high-end feed and food sectors.
"Lysine is one of the essential amino acids for humans and mammals. The 250,000-ton annual lysine project not only extends the deep processing chain for corn and significantly increases product value-added, but also multiplies the value of a single corn kernel from a primary raw material dozens of times over. It addresses gaps in the company's bio-fermentation industry and optimizes the industrial structure," said Ma Zhengpeng, Deputy General Manager of Inner Mongolia Yuwang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Upon reaching full capacity, the project is expected to convert 400,000 tons of corn starch annually, generating sales revenue of 2.5 billion yuan.
The potential of corn deep processing extends even further. Located in the Kailu Biomedical Development Zone, Tongliao Shengda Bioengineering Co., Ltd. utilizes the region's high-quality corn resources and mature microbial fermentation technology to produce nisin, a safe and efficient natural biological preservative.
Company General Manager Ma Hui explained that nisin, which is not prone to developing drug resistance and leaves no drug residues, is widely used across multiple fields including food, pharmaceuticals, and animal husbandry. "Nisin is our company's core product and has successfully entered the international high-end food additive market. The current annual production capacity is 2,000 tons, placing its scale among the global leaders."
In recent years, Kailu County has been promoting the extension, supplementation, and strengthening of the corn industry chain, achieving "supply across the wall" and collaborative development among upstream and downstream enterprises. Currently, the locality has established several complete industrial chains, such as "corn - starch - oxytetracycline - doxycycline," enabling the production of over 160 products across six major series: antibiotics, vitamins, amino acids, starch, food and pharmaceutical additives, and alcohol. High-value-added chains for high-end active pharmaceutical ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates are also taking initial shape. Presently, the Kailu Biomedical Development Zone has gathered over 30 corn bio-based and pharmaceutical chemical enterprises, with an annual corn processing capacity exceeding 2 million tons, creating an output value of 7 billion yuan.
"We have driven industrial agglomeration by leading enterprises and propelled industrial upgrading through technological innovation, completing the transition from resource output of 'selling raw grain' to product output of 'processing finished goods,' and further to the output of technological innovation through 'technology empowerment'," said Xiao Ning, Party Secretary and Director of the Kailu County Development and Reform Commission. Kailu County will continue to facilitate the integration of industry, academia, research, and application, amplify the industrial cluster effect, transform agricultural advantages into industrial and economic strengths, and inject powerful momentum into the high-quality development of the county economy.