Grantec plus, Part one

GRANTEC PLUS
In The Beginning

New years eve 2021, Mark Latham, had, just two months previously, been
promoted to the position of, head of research, at the Grantec Bio
Research Institute. The promotion was, in his opinion, long over due.
He stood six feet two inches, was always immaculately dressed, and had
the uncanny ability of saying the right thing, at the right time, and
more importantly, being in the right place, at the right time. He had
the manner of a man who knew his worth, and a bank balance that was the
envy of many.
Mark Latham had worked at the institute for the past eighteen years.
His predecessor, Sir Anthony Howard-Carter, had recently celebrated his
seventy-fifth birthday. He had held the position, of head of research,
for over twenty years, and was, in Mark Latham's opinion, well past his
use by date. Sir Anthony preferred to use tried and tested methods of
research, which, in Latham's world were time consuming and wasted
valuable man-hours. In a world, which was moving at a faster pace as
each new day dawned, you had to move one step faster, or lose out to
your competitor. Yes, as far as Latham was concerned Sir Anthony
Howard-Carter was out, and he was in.

The Grantec Institute has existed for over forty years. Founded
originally for the sole purpose of finding a cure for various types of
cancer, it had, since its conception, grown into a major force. Within
the confines of the scientific community, Grantec, had become a name to
be both admired and feared. Admired due to the results that had been
achieved, feared because, as far as The Grantec Institute are
concerned, being number one is all that matters. In the scientific
world there can be no room for second best. Being best was what The
Grantec Institute was all about. Having your fingers in as many pies as
possible, had to be good for business, and business was good.
The four founders of the institute had little scientific knowledge.
They were, to all intents and purposes, four wealthy businessmen, who
had desires for more wealth. This had been fulfilled the Institute had
made them more than any of them could have dreamed. The last one, of
the original four, to sell his shares, had been Sir Anthony Howard
Carter Snr. These days you had to be, in the know, to obtain even a few
shares in the Grantec Institute.

Mark Latham stood at the window of the penthouse suit, watching the
world go by. There were ten minutes remaining of 2021. He would remain,
in this position, with a glass of brandy in his hand, and welcome the
New Year in, as he had done for many years, alone. Having joined
Grantec, as a research chemist, he had quickly established himself and
become a leading figure. He began to specialise in agriculture and
livestock, and as usual, excelled. He was a private person, some would
say introvert others would say ignorant. At just over six feet tall he
was also an imposing figure, Latham was, as far as his personality is
concerned, to most people, a walking contradiction.
Being alone, at a time when others sought the companionship of friends
and family, made Mark Latham feel better about himself he liked the
idea of being totally independent, of not needing anyone, especially on
new years eve. To choose solitude at this time of the year proved, to
himself if nobody else, that in Mark Latham's life only one person
mattered. On the stroke of midnight, he raised his glass, and said, as
much to his own reflected image as to the world outside.
"This is my year".
He said it, and he meant it, but, more importantly, he knew it was
true.

The Grantec Bio Research Institute was involved in a wide variety of
projects, for both the government and private sector business. Latham
was a well respected Bio Chemist, and as such had, for many years,
worked unhindered, if Mark Latham needed money, someone, somewhere,
would supply it. He had in recent years been credited with finding, and
eliminating, several viruses that affected both food crops and
livestock. His work in the field of genetic research had been, in the
words of those closest to him, quite brilliant.
The research undertaken by his team had resulted in output, of both
livestock and crops worldwide increasing by almost a third. Many of the
worlds poorer countries had benefited from increased crop yields and
the annihilation of diseases, like, malaria and sleeping sickness, the
aids virus had been almost, completely wiped out, as a direct result of
research carried out at the Grantec Institute. To many, Mark Latham was
Grantec. The man had almost single handedly, or that's how it looked on
paper, doubled the gross profit made by the Institute. It had also
resulted in Grantec becoming one of the most influential companies on
the planet, with outlets for their products in over eighty percent of
countries in the modern world. Grantec had done to food production what
the microchip had done for computers late in the last century.
This had made Mark Latham some powerful allies, and enemies. Sir
Anthony had held Latham at bay for as long as he could. Ill health and
pressure though, had finally, created the opening Latham had longed
for, and it could not have come at a better time. His latest research
project was complete, and ready to be unveiled to the world. This, he
knew, would be his crowning glory. Mark Latham would go down in history
as the man who banished hunger from the planet, for all time. All he
had to do now was convince the people with the real power, to market
his latest product.

"Morning Mr Latham".
The greeting was delivered in the only way Cheryl Stone knew how. She
was by nature a chirpy, bubbly person, and had worked in Mark Latham's
office for four years. Latham's promotion had the knock on effect of
promoting her. As secretary to the head of research, her earnings had
almost doubled. It did mean longer hours and more trips away from home,
but in Cheryl's opinion, that was a small price to pay.
"Good morning Cheryl, any messages".
He replied, as he strode across the office, to deposit his coat on the
stand in the corner.
"Mr Barkers office called, to remind you of the meeting with the
executive committee this morning".
She continued,
"Geoff Daniel's called, to ask how many samples you would need sending
to the meeting".
"Call Geoff back and tell him to fill the room with as many class A
samples as he can, leaving just enough room for them to sit
down",
he replied.
"Then when you've cancelled any more appointments I have for today,
come into my office and we'll run through the schedule".
He was halfway through the door to his own office before the sentence
was finished. Cheryl's videophone already had Geoff Daniel's on line
and holding.
Geoff Daniel's had been a friend of Latham's for many years. He had an
admiration for the man that he considered, to be the best in his field
that could never be equaled. He was the only person, in the world, that
Mark Latham really trusted. It was a mutual respect that had grown out
of a working relationship, which had yielded results that neither could
have foreseen. They work well, but, what was of more importance, they
worked well together.

Sat in the huge leather chair, behind an antique walnut desk, Latham
viewed his surroundings. He could never describe the feeling he had
each time he sat here, in the seat he had coveted for so many years. He
had been stood or sat on the other side of this desk, trying to
persuade Sir Anthony to go with one of his projects, on more occasions
than he cares to remember. The decisions were his for the making now,
he would decide who got to see the executive committee, or who received
funding, and he knew that he was a better man for the job than Sir
Anthony could ever have wished to be.

After running through the major part of his presentation with his
secretary, Mark Latham left his office and made his way to the
conference room. The conference room covered the whole of the top
floor, of the vast site that was The Grantec Institute. The main
feature was the long mahogany table that dominated the center of the
room. The crafted mahogany chairs, down each side of the table, had
been hand made and furnished with gold and mother of pearl. On
entering, people were greeted by two ornamental marble fountains, which
had been sculptured so as to include the Grantec name. The smoked glass
of the windows and the bright red hand sewn carpet, made this room
appear almost magical. The room was designed as much for comfort as
business. It was designed to impress, and impress is just what it
did.
On entering Latham was greeted by a sight that surprised even him.
Geoff Daniel's was sitting, in the chair at the head of the table, with
what could only be described as a smug look on his face he was
surrounded by a forest of plants.
"You did say fill the room",
Daniel's said. He stood and continued, as if to mimic, a market
trader.
"Over here we have some plump, ripe, tomato's, cucumber, and, if sir
pleases, ripe and ready to eat pineapples".
Mark Latham was impressed, as he surveyed the room his eyes moving from
one specimen to another, he could almost taste the fruits and
vegetables that had been assembled. The perfume that filled the air was
unlike anything he had ever experienced. If Latham had even the
slightest of doubt, about what had been achieved, those doubts would
now be banished from his memory, for all time. Geoff as usual had done
a good job he knew the executive committee would have to go along with
him, especially when they saw his results.
"Would you like the good news, or the really good news"?
Daniel's asked his friend. He continued without waiting for a
reply.
"I took the liberty of doing a little snooping, remember I told you
about the girl I had a fling with over at the ministry".
Meaning the ministry of agriculture.
"She had a look at the results of tests on the samples we sent, and it
appears we are due to get the all clear on production".
"That's brilliant news".
Latham replied then continued.
"When will a licence be granted"?.
"Well according to my friend, we should receive word sometime
today".
It was the news that Latham wanted to here.
Latham spent the remainder of the time left, before the meeting,
running over details with his old friend. Everything had to be just
right all he needed was the money to begin production, that money would
be walking through the door in ten minutes.

In a room on the second floor Sir Anthony Howard-Carter, and the other
members of the executive committee, which included in their number, Sir
Gordon Clarke O.B.E and Ronald Firth M.B.E, two of the wealthiest men
in the country, were finishing their drinks, talking about golf and the
recent acquisition of another rival. Contrary to what he thought of
Latham as a person, he had in the past come up trumps, and it would
appear he had done so again. Sir Anthony had to admit he was a damn
good asset to Grantec.
Cheryl Stone entered the room, surveyed her surroundings, then, on
locating the whereabouts of Sir Anthony, made her way to where he
stood.
"That's what I like to see heading my way",
Sir Gordon said, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. Cheryl
Stone had become accustomed comments made by certain members of the
committee, as far as she were concerned, it was another gathering of
filthy rich, filthy minded old men. The best course of action, in such
situations, had in the past, proved to be, ignorance. She walked
straight past Sir Gordon, and headed for her intended target, Sir
Anthony.
"Look's like your out of luck this time old boy, the lady prefers the
more mature type",
a nameless voice said.
"And they don't come any more mature than old Anthony",
replied someone else, as Cheryl Stone reached her destination.
"Take no notice, they're just a bunch of desperate old men",
Sir Anthony informed her.
"Now, what can I help you with".
"Mr Latham is ready for you now, Sir Anthony",
Cheryl informed him.
"Thank you, we'll make our way up to the conference room straight
away".
Cheryl turned and headed for the door. Once again the short journey,
from one side of the room to the other, brought more comments from
those assembled. On reaching the corridor, she let out a sign. It was
neither relief nor frustration, just a sigh.

Latham greeted the members of the executive committee. He knew, by the
look of disbelief on the faces of those assembled, that they were
impressed.
"Gentlemen".
The room fell silent as Mark Latham began his address.
"Thank you for sparing me your time, and coming to this meeting".
He made a sweeping gesture towards the plants that surrounded the
conference table.
"We here at Grantec are on the threshold of one of the most important
steps, if not the most, important step, in the history of
mankind".
He paused, allowing time for the statement to sink in.
"As you can see, we have managed to double, indeed in some cases,
treble the size and yield of all major food crops, and",
he paused again before continuing.
"The time needed, from germination, to the crops being ready for
collection, is on average half of that taken by traditional
methods".
Latham went on to explain some of the processes involved, then, just to
gauge the level of interest his captive audience were showing, he
asked.
"Are there any questions before I continue"?
"Well yes",
Replied Sir Gordon Clarke.
"This display is all very well and good, but are these miracle crops
edible".
Sir Gordon had never been one for taking things, at face value.
"That question can best be answered by yourselves",
Latham said.
"I have arranged to have a selection of fruits and vegetables prepared,
they should be here in about five minutes".
Grant Baker, owner of several shopping malls and long time member of
the committee, said,
"These crops are all very impressive, but, growing them in laboratory
conditions is one thing, transferring this into the outside world is
another".
Before he had time to continue Latham responded to the possible
criticism. He informed those assembled that most of the plants in the
room had been grown at various sites around the country.
"Furthermore field tests carried out in different countries around the
world, had proved, extremely rewarding, in whatever conditions we
encountered the results were the same, bigger, better and faster
growing".
Latham's reply left those assembled momentarily stunned into
silence.
As if on cue there was a rap on the door, the door swung open, and in
walked five waiters, carrying silver salvers, two with fruit, two with
vegetables, and the fifth one contained an assortment of breads. The
salvers were placed on a table, which had been set to one side and
already contained plates, knives and forks etc.
"Gentlemen, in answer to the question, are these crops edible, please
help yourselves, after a short break we will continue".
When they had finished sampling the food that had been prepared, and
they were once again sat at the large mahogany table, Sir Gordon
said.
"All right Mark, I believe the foods edible, in fact the taste is
second to none, so tell us, in detail, how have you done it"?
"That would be my pleasure".
Latham replied. Continuing he said.
"The video monitors".
Which were built into the mahogany table front of each person.
"Will show detailed graphics, and allow us direct access to different
sites, as I progress through the major part of the presentation".
He paused, again for dramatic effect then once again continued.
"We are linked to sights world-wide, via the new Grantec satellite, of
which, we are all so justly proud".
He said with as much pride as he could muster.
"This means that we can receive, up to the minute reports, from over
twenty growing sites world-wide".
Latham went on to explain, to those assembled, how he and his team had
managed to get such results. He told them that through perseverance,
and hard work, that they had, against all the odds, managed to splice
together the very life force of a plant and with the D.N.A of a small
microscopic nematode worm. When asked what was meant by the life force
of a plant, he had explained the life-force is the electrical field
that surrounds all living things.
He had since childhood been fascinated by pictures of the life force,
taken using kirlain photography. It had been this fascination, and a
large amount of knowledge, that had led to success in this latest
venture. The machines involved in the process had been designed, over a
period of years, at the main Grantec Institute.
The first time that they managed to separate the life force of a
plant, and keep it stabilised as a separate entity, had been, the real
turning point. The technique used involved turning the life force into
matter, a process that had proved easier than anyone could have
expected. The idea of splicing this life force matter with D.N.A, had
been, a stroke of pure genius. The sort of genius, that was only
possessed by people of great vision. Leonardo Da Vinci, Marconi,
Gallileo and now Mark Latham.
Splicing the Life-force, and D.N.A together, had proved to be the most
difficult task. This had been tried with many different specimens. It
was only the D.N.A of certain insects that had worked. The most
effective had proved to be a nematode worm, that had been discovered,
only twelve years previously, in a remote part of Papua New Guinea.
When the specimens had been grown in culture jars, their true nature
had come to light. Any form of plant life, that had come into contact,
with the new genetic material, had grown out off all proportion. In the
beginning many of the plants, coming into contact with the material,
had been affected in the same way that some weed killers had affected
plants, they had simply grown far to quickly and died.
Since then the processes had been fine tuned, and as far as Mark
Latham was concerned, made the product perfect. Tests carried out on
laboratory animals had proved, that constant exposure to the material,
even if large quantities were consumed, had no ill effects at all. It
could be marketed and sold, ready to use, in the same manner as
traditional fertiliser. The major difference between this and other
products, was, that given the right conditions the material would
double its own mass in four days. Take it out of those conditions and
it became, just one more bag of miracle fertiliser.
Another characteristic of the new wonder material, had been the
ability it had shown to produce results, in the harshest of conditions.
No matter how arid an area, as tests in a remote part of the Gobi
dessert had shown, plants fed with the material thrived. The only
conditions that seemed to have an adverse effect, were temperature that
dropped below minus twenty degrees. It was a problem that Latham was
convinced, would one day be solved.
Latham drew his presentation to a close, after almost five hours, with
the words.
"And that gentleman, is the product that I believe will secure the
future of mankind".
Those gathered around the large mahogany table, sat in silence. The
implications of what they had heard, and seen, had, as the meeting
progressed, quite literally, stunned their senses.
It was Grant Baker who was the first to break the silence.
"How many people know about this?"
He asked.
"Well".
Latham answered.
"Apart from the people gathered in this room, my long time colleague
Geoff Daniel's, Cheryl Stone and three other senior members of staff,
are the only persons who have had access to any of the completed
data".
"What about the field tests".
Enquired Jonathan Parkins, a wealthy industrialist, who had made his
fortune producing machine parts for the farming community. He
continued.
"The people doing the field tests have had access to data
surely".
"Not at all".
Latham countered.
"Everywhere that field tests were carried out, we only allowed
information on a need to know basis".
He paused then continued.
"We never grew more than one type of crop, at any one site, the workers
at these sites think they have been growing a new type of tomato, or
mango, all of the important data has been processed, in this
building".
Mark Latham knew he had won the support he required, to get his
project up and running. The meeting continued on well into the night.
There were questions that would need to be answered. Latham had the
answers, and knew, he would leave the room with the result he wanted.
The news that a licence had been granted would be conveyed to Grantec
within the week. He told those assembled he had this on the most
reliable authority.
It would cost in excess of forty million pounds to begin production.
That forty million guaranteed Grantec would dominate the world's
production of food. When the meeting was over, and everyone, except
Latham had left, He called Geoff Daniel's to convey the good news. They
would celebrate only when Grantec Plus was in full production. It was a
ritual the two had shared for many years. No production meant, no
celebration.