1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 403 The Information-Stricken 1980s

If the person on the other end of the line is someone who knows little about truffles but criticizes researchers just because they are the funder, Professor Fernand won't listen to a word. He'll just say, "If you're not satisfied with my inoculation method, you can go and collaborate with other institutions," and then leave immediately.

But Ronan left a good impression on him; at least he had studied truffles instead of just making money from them.

"Tell me something."

Ronan hesitated for a few seconds, organizing his thoughts before speaking:
"Even with this latest inoculation method, the success rate of mycelium is probably no more than 50%. After going through the long growth period, the survival rate is even lower. I'm wondering if there is any inoculation method that can maximize the survival rate of mycelium. Once the survival rate is increased, even if the subsequent technology remains unchanged, the final truffle will also be improved."

Didier pouted and said:

"That makes sense, but it's too difficult to put into practice."

Ronan smiled and nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, it is indeed very difficult. But once I was chatting with a colleague from the north, and he said there is a new way to inoculate truffles. It involves planting the host tree that has already been integrated with the mycelium back into the forest. This can greatly improve the survival rate of the mycelium. I think what he said makes a lot of sense. This can effectively reduce an important obstacle. I just don't know if this method exists or if he is lying to me?"

Agriculture has been a part of human civilization for thousands of years. In fact, human beings have a very deep understanding of agriculture, and various countries and regions are conducting all kinds of agricultural experiments.

However, one of the biggest obstacles to agricultural progress in this era was the lack of information.

It may take a long time for the experimental results from Paris to be transmitted to Provence.

If the internet had existed earlier, the technology for artificially cultivating truffles might have been successfully tested 20 years earlier.

Ronan didn't know how to solve several of the "high-tech" challenges, but the method with the highest success rate for vaccination was definitely not the one Professor Fernand described.

The knowledge in Ronan's mind is absolutely correct.

In 1987, the most advanced inoculation method, the "Black Truffle Tissue Culture Seedling Symbiont Construction Method," had already been invented and patented in 1983.

For some reason, Provence is still using methods with a higher failure rate.

In fact, one of the important reasons for the establishment of the European Community, the predecessor of the European Union, was to solve the problem of the lack of information and policy sharing in European agriculture.

However, this situation did not improve significantly until the early 1990s when MINITEL agricultural terminals became widespread and the EU's agricultural informatization program was implemented.

But so much mycelium is lost in the first step of inoculation. How many will survive afterwards?
Ronan's [Planting] skill might not even reach level 6 before most of his plants die!
Left with no other choice, Ronan had to fabricate a story to remind the researchers that their technology could actually be improved.

“Don’t believe what truffle hunters say; very little of it is reliable.” Lucas knows this all too well; he heard about the artificial cultivation of truffles in Paris from his colleagues.

Professor Fernand seemed to be deep in thought and did not respond for the time being.

Didier frowned, as if answering Ronan, or perhaps talking to himself:

"Theoretically feasible, but without experimental data, we previously cultured mycelia under sterile conditions. You mean to scale up this environment and culture the host tree and mycelia together, but this doesn't necessarily improve the survival rate. At least current research results cannot confirm that it can."

Professor Fernand suddenly interrupted Didier's monologue and asked:
"Has anyone at the Agricultural Research Institute conducted germination experiments using orchid seeds and fungi in a symbiotic relationship?"

Didier recalled carefully:
“Some professors have been researching this topic since the 1970s and have made great breakthroughs.”

Professor Fernand said thoughtfully:
"Have someone collect some information, focusing on the experimental data."

Didier agreed:
"Ok."

Ronan reminded him:
"What I heard was an experiment in truffle cultivation, not orchids."

Professor Fernand's expression towards Ronan had changed, and he explained in more detail:
"The underlying logic of these two experiments is the same—artificially inducing symbiosis between plants and microorganisms under sterile conditions. Through this project, we can find all the publicly available experimental reports related to it, whether from France or internationally. Rest assured, we will make every penny you spend worthwhile."

Juliet silently put down her coffee cup, glanced thoughtfully at Ronan, and seemed lost in thought.

But Lucas's expression was easy to interpret.

These 'academic institutions' are actually talking to us nicely and listening to our opinions?

He glanced at Ronan, who was having a lively conversation with Professor Fernand, with a complicated expression.

Ronan's involvement might really change the outcome.

Professor Fernand's technological improvements this time have only two directions—inoculation and soil improvement.

However, given Ronan's knowledge of truffles, he said much more than that.

He explained everything to Ronan, from the initial cultivation to field management and soil maintenance. Didier was astonished.
The professor's time is very valuable; why did he spend so much time on these two guys?
Ronan didn't let the professor waste his time.

Frankly speaking, level 4 [Planting] and level 4 [Harvesting] only allow Ronan to understand the theoretical operation process of artificially cultivating truffles, the kind of theoretical knowledge that is just theoretical.

However, he perfectly served as an information hub.

Using 'hearsay' and 'sudden inspiration' as excuses, two more minor suggestions were put forward.

“That suggestion makes sense. To prevent the invasion of competing fungi, it would indeed be worth trying to steam sterilize the soil before inoculation,” Professor Fernand said, looking at Didier. “Make a note of that.”

Agricultural experiments are like a game of permutations and combinations.

Finding the most suitable dozens of methods from the hundreds or thousands of known 'methods' and piecing them together to form a complete planting chain is a painful process, involving many failures.

Ronan thought for a moment, and with his current abilities, there was nothing else he could add:

"I hope you will verify these suggestions before starting the formal experiment."

Professor Fernand smiled for the first time since he appeared today:
"Of course, I would also like to remind you that the experimental process is lengthy. It may take one or two months just to confirm whether the vaccination method you mentioned exists and is feasible."

Ronan also said with a smile:
"As long as it can be successful, I don't mind waiting a little longer."

Ronan wasn't in a hurry, but Lucas was.

The two suggestions that followed were fine, only adding a little to the maintenance costs, but Ronan's new inoculation method required host tree seedlings!

The host trees in his experimental forest were all mature, which meant that if the inoculation method was changed, all the host trees would have to be replaced, which would increase the cost too much.

"How much more?" Ronan asked Lucas.

Lucas frowned and shook his head:

"The price varies every year, you need to ask the Forestry Bureau for specific details."

Ronan sighed.

It seems I need to meet with Bruno as soon as possible.

Suddenly, he remembered something and began searching for Juliet.

Why did Juliet just remind him not to worry about the budget?

After leaving the lab, Juliet lagged far behind and didn't follow, seemingly wanting to speak with Ronan alone.

Ronan quickly moved closer to Juliet and whispered:

Is there something you want to tell me?

Juliet asked a question that Ronan didn't expect:
"You have a good relationship with the tourism bureau?"

Ronan replied, puzzled:

"No, we're not familiar with each other."

Juliet's tone was so complex that Ronan couldn't tell if she was happy or angry:

"You're not even familiar with them, yet you told them about the important work I told you about at the Ministry of Agriculture?"

Ronan's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, it's Quincy!

Juliet's face suddenly broke into a smile:
"I'm just kidding, it's not a secret. But I have to thank the Tourism Bureau for their help. Your application for the grape experimental field project has been approved, and several departments are very interested in it."

Ronan let out a long breath:
"Finally, the application was approved."

Juliet pointed to her car:

"Give me ten minutes, and I'll talk to you about what you should do next."

(End of this chapter)