Executive Summary

Niconaut is a company poised to address the critical global issue of "hidden hunger," specifically iron and zinc deficiencies that affect over 2 billion people worldwide, with a significant impact on South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. The company's core product, "Niconaut," is an advanced biofertilizer designed to increase the micronutrient content of staple crops like maize and rice. This is achieved by using a genetically engineered bacterium,

Bacillus subtilis , which secretes nicotinamide to enhance the uptake of iron and zinc in plants.

Key aspects of the business plan include:

• Product: Niconaut is a 10kg compound fertilizer that combines a high-analysis phosphorus fertilizer with a probiotic bacterial solution that releases nicotinamide into the soil. This not only provides essential macronutrients but also signals the plant to more efficiently absorb iron and zinc from the environment, resulting in biofortified crops.

• Market: The primary target customers are smallholder farmers in Asia and Africa, government agricultural cooperatives, and large agribusinesses. The market demand is driven by the high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and the urgent need for nutrient-dense, affordable staple foods.

• Financials: The product is priced at 99 RMB ($13.82) per pack. The financial forecast projects a loss in the first two years, with profitability expected to begin in the third year. The business plan outlines a five-phase timeline covering R&D, trials, market launch, and expansion over 48 months.

• Team: The Niconaut team is comprised of individuals with roles in business planning, marketing, research, design, and analysis.

• Ethics: The company's framework is built on sustainability, transparency, and equality, with a focus on social and environmental responsibility. Niconaut aims to make its products accessible to smallholder farmers and actively collaborates with NGOs and local governments.

The overall strategy combines advanced crop genetics with a focus on soil health to provide a sustainable solution to hidden hunger and improve dietary quality for vulnerable populations.

1. Our Business Plan

1.1 Business Background

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies affect more than 2 billion people worldwide, particularly in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, where staple foods such as maize and rice dominate diets. These deficiencies—known as “hidden hunger”—stem not only from the low micronutrient content of crops but also from the widespread depletion of soil quality. Nearly half of global agricultural soils are Zn-deficient, including ~47% of soils in India, directly limiting the micronutrient density of food.

Addressing this dual challenge requires integrated solutions. On the crop side, genetic biofortification offers scalable potential. Nicotianamine synthase ( AtNAS1 ), a key enzyme in Fe/Zn transport, has been shown to increase micronutrient content, though its activity is limited by an autoinhibitory domain. By applying advanced protein modeling (AlphaFold3, PyMOL) and targeted mutagenesis, this project aims to develop high-activity AtNAS1 variants, validated through expression in microbial systems and tobacco models.

On the soil side, micronutrient-aware organic fertilizers—including composts, manures, biofertilizers, and enriched organics—play a critical role in improving soil health, enhancing micronutrient bioavailability, and enabling biofortified crops to achieve their nutritional potential. South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia represent priority geographies, given the high prevalence of child stunting, degraded soils, and dependence on staple cereals.

By combining advances in crop genetics with soil-health-first organic inputs, this approach provides a sustainable pathway to address hidden hunger, improve dietary quality, and create scalable impact across vulnerable populations.

1.2 Our team

NAME	JOB DESCRIPTION
Larry Li	Manager of Business Planning
Elias Ye	Manager of Marketing and Promotion
Dora Duan	Ambassador, Chief Interviewer
Alexia Zhao	Chief UI Designer, Researcher
Chris Li	Researcher, Chief Environmental Specialist
Celine Zhang	Business Analyst, Researcher
Coco Pan	R&D Department
Treya Yao	Researcher, Designer
Yaya Jin	Researcher
Eli He	Researcher

1.3 Our Business Ethics

Niconaut believes that hidden hunger is more of a social and ethical issue instead of a biological challenge. The company's framework stands on Sustainability, transparency, and equality. Everyone should have the fundamental right to be treated with food. Innovations shall be used for building the communities and also avoiding any unintended harm.

Social Responsibility

We combat hidden hunger by enhancing the nutrient content of staple foods, focusing on rural vulnerable groups.

Price controls shall be put in place for the products so that Niconaut is able to serve smallholders, who are not just large farms.

We actively cooperate with NGOs, local governments, and community groups in order to make sure the products reach the very needy.

Environmental Responsibility

Niconaut was developed to reduce its ecological footprint and place primary focus on sustainable soil management.

We ensured production and use that were safe so as to avoid soil degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

Our business, therefore, works toward accomplishing Sustainable Development Goals 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, and 15, Life on Land, by helping reduce agricultural waste and work toward ecosystem protection.

Ethical Research and Innovation

All research and trials meet international ethical standards regarding the management of wastes from laboratory and field testing, respectively.

We do not `setOverPromise'__; or claim that Niconaut alone could treat or end all hunger: it is possible to treat iron and zinc deficiencies with it.

We responsibly manage intellectual property and strive for a reasonable balance between the protection of innovation and providing equitable access to communities in need.

Fair Business Practices

Fair trade and ethical approaches are maintained in our supply chain to avoid exploitation of farmers and workers.

Transparency is vital to us in these partnerships, so we share and educate concerning results, limitations, and potential risks.

We stand against greenwashing and so are resolute in our pursuit of observable outcomes in regard to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Long-term Ethical Commitment

We will continue monitoring how Niconauts impact human health, agriculture, and ecosystems.

We will have a continual process of seeking feedback from all stakeholder groups to improve our products and practices.

Our concept is that of co-creation: to provide nutrition across the globe, while building a sustainable and ethical future for agriculture.

2. Our Product

2.1 Nature of the product

Product Name:

Niconaut

Product description:

Niconaut is a technologically advanced 10kg compound fertilizer meant to deliver optimal plant nutrition and soil health. Its central component is a high-analysis phosphorus fertilizer, further complemented critically by an exclusive bacterial culture liquid to render it a complete, holistic whole. This is a wet suspension of probiotic bacterium Bacillus subtilis, a prokaryotically modified strain which secretes and emits the precious metabolite nicotinamide into the rhizosphere. The final product is a uniform, dry, granular solid with off-white to grey colour, where each granule of phosphorus is coated and loaded with this useful, nicotinamide-emitting bacterial solution. This new formula ensures that upon application, the product delivers an interactive two-fold benefit: it immediately delivers the essential macronutrient phosphorus required for root establishment and energy transfer, as well as concurrently inoculate the soil with potent microbes that continuously yield bio-available nicotinamide, which in turn enhances plant vigor, resistance to stress, and overall crop potential yield.

Product introduction:

Our product(Niconaut) aims to solve hidden hunger, namely——Iron and Zinc deficiency—— in nutrient uptake in daily meals, by implementing Nicotinamide abundant soil to buff the Iron and Zinc microelements abundance in plants that are nourished by our “Niconaut” soil fertilizer-based product. The significance of our product collaborates closely with SDG (Sustainable Development Goals), especially in our macroscopic vision of this product, which closely focuses on“zero hunger”. Our product recognizes its inability to completely reduce all varieties of “hunger” in one solution; thus, our product underscores the importance of addressing “hidden hunger”.Nowadays, “hidden hunger” (microelement deficiency, especially Fe and Zn) in meals is not noticed by most, but happens frequently globally, especially in LEDC countries.

Our product Niconaut integrates a highly active nicotinamidase enzyme (PncA), produced with prokaryotic expression in Bacillus subtilis and stabilized within the substrate matrix. Moreover, this localized Nicotinamide boost acts as a metabolic signal, which upregulates the plant’s own genes responsible for iron and zinc transport and assimilation. That is, Niconaut doesn’t just add minerals; it “instructs” the plant to more efficiently acquire and accumulate them from its native environment, resulting in biofortified biomass.

Product Usage

Niconaut is designed to be used in normal daily agriculture, controlled environment agriculture（greenhouses, vertical farms, and could be used as a nursery starter mix. Users would plant crops directly into the Niconaut substrate, where the embedded enzyme(nicotinamide) will directly get to work to enhance the nutritional value and increase the uptake of Fe and Zn in plants and crops.

Furthermore, Niconaut’s targeted outcome is to address “hidden hunger” by producing crops with inherently higher levels of vital bioavailable iron and zinc. That is, speaking of its sustainable value, Niconaut leverages the plant’s natural processes and reduces the need for excessive mineral fertilizer that may cause runoff and environmental damage. The effect of abundant Iron and Zinc uptake is built into the growth medium itself, requiring no change in farming practices for the end-user. Niconaut ensures consistent nutrient uptake regardless of variable soil conditions, and unlike conventional fertilizers, it activates the plant to nourish itself more effectively, making it a unique product in the ag-tech space. In essence, if astronauts are the explorers of the astronomical world, then Niconaut is the precursor ofNicotinamide, solving hidden hunger.

2.2 The unique advantages of our Product – Using Nicotinamide to Solve Hidden Hunger

Our product –Niconaut—is a next-generation biofertilizer developed through advanced synthetic biology. By genetically engineering the Bacillus subtilis bacterium incorporated with Nicotinamide, we created a superior microbial inoculant with targeted advantages over conventional, non-engineered strains.

1. Enhanced Production of Key Enzymes

Unlike naturally selected strains, our engineered bacterium is optimized to secrete significantly higher levels of Nicotinamidase(PncA) enzyme. This allows for a more potent and reliable effect in the rhizosphere, ensuring consistent performance across diverse soil conditions.

2. Synergistic Soil Health Benefits

The engineered strain retains all the proven benefits of wild-type Bacillus subtillis, which are now synergistically enhanced. Soil structure makes improvements such as regulating the microbial communities and promoting the formation of soil aggregates, which improve aeration and water retention. Moreover, pathogen suppression produces potent antimicrobial compounds (e.g., bacillibaction, organic acids) to suppress soil-borne pathogens and induce systemic resistance in plants, reducing crop loss and pesticide dependence.

3. Environmental Sustainability

Niconaut offers a sustainable solution to agriculture by reducing chemical inputs, which diminishes the need for synthetic micronutrient fertilizers and pesticides. Also, the biodegradable and non-toxic nature of Niconaut makes sure it is safe for humans, animals, and the environment, and helps degrade chemical residues in the soil. Moreover, in restoring soil ecology, Niconaut contributes to a healthier, more balanced, and productive soil microbiome.

4 . Economic and Practical Utility

Finally, in the high resilience aspect of this product, the engineered bacteria maintain a strong stress resistance, ensuring survival and efficacy in the field. Niconaut also possesses formulation flexibility, which means it can be processed into various user-friendly formulations(e.g., granules, liquid concentrates) with a long shelf life. Moreover, Niconaut is compatible with multiple application methods, including seed coating, soil drenching, and irrigation systems.

3. Market Analysis

3.1 Market Demand

More than 2 billion people are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies (“hidden hunger”), with iron, vitamin A, and iodine the most common—especially in children and pregnant women. (Weffort). The situation is Highest prevalence in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, though gaps also persist in high-income countries due to A monotonous diet and a general lack of nutrients. (Micronutrient Forum). According to recent reports from the United Nations for 2024–2025, between 673 and 733 million people are experiencing hunger, while approximately 2.6 to 2.8 billion individuals are unable to afford a healthy diet, highlighting the urgent demand for nutrient-dense and affordable staple foods. (globalhunger.org).

3.2 Competitors Research

The competitor research highlights a number of players in the micronutrient fertilizer market. Down To Earth is an OMRI-listed liquid fertilizer in the US; it contains iron, zinc, manganese, boron, copper, and potassium. It is organically certified and perfectly suited to correcting micronutrient deficiencies, yet the exorbitant price and its scarcity in developing markets stymie access to smallhold farmers of Asia and Africa. Micro Rich F6 is a multi-micronutrient mixture from India that provides an inexpensive solution, widely distributed in South Asia, to address soil deficiencies in iron and zinc.

Nonetheless, the main thrust of the fertilizer application remains yield correction, with less into nutrition with respect to human health. The product also lacks organic certification. Vaster Green Triple Micronutrient liquid fertilizer from Iran works for both alkaline and acidic soil, carries out the deficiency correction, yet it is being sold on an industrial scale, meaning it is not cheap for smallholders and has no explicit story of confronting hidden hunger. Also, other informal competitors would be Farmer Self-Made Fertilizers,comprising compost and organic manures produced by rural households or cooperatives, which provide low-cost, locally trusted alternatives tailored to specific farm needs.

Although self-constructed fertilizers can become inconsistent with their nutrients and availability of iron or zinc, limiting their broad scalability, they demonstrate a growing need for iron and zinc and reveal an opportunity for differentiation based on measurable impacts on nutrient enrichment, stability of yield, and health benefits better than self-constructed compost.

3.3 Target Customers

Smallholder Farmers & Individual Growers: In Asia and Africa, millions of smallholder farmers depend upon staple crops such as rice, maize, and wheat for their household food security and cash income. They need our micronutrient fertilizers to improve the iron and zinc concentrations of their crops, to improve household nutrition, and to tremendously raise the value of their crops. They also increase the organic matter of their soils, benefiting soil health and stabilizing yields in drought and low-input conditions. Not only are our fertilizer choices helping the farmers help their own families, but each of them is contributing to the welfare of their communities and bringing about a broader social awareness in the effort against hidden hunger.

Government & Agricultural Cooperatives: Local governments, agricultural bureaus, and state-backed cooperatives ensure food security and enable rural development. These entities require our fertilizers to guide nutrition-sensitive policies that mitigate hidden hunger and further aid Sustainable Development Goals (SDG2: Zero Hunger, SDG3: Good Health, SDG15: Life on Land).

Agribusiness & Corporate Customers: The fertilizers stand to cater to the needs of big agro and farming establishments, food processors, exporters, and retail chains. These corporates require functional advantage to create a niche for themselves, whereby our products enhance the micronutrient density so that they can promote their products with labels like "Iron- and Zinc-rich rice/wheat." The use of our organic-based nutrition-enhancing inputs fits into their sustainability and ESG goals and can thus be tracked against CSR projects. These companies may thus colocate their CSR objectives to improve supply security with us; restore soil health; and firmly position themselves in regenerative and nutrition-smart agriculture. Our value offering includes bulk or volume pricing with discounts for larger orders, customized formulations, and co-branding opportunities for fortified foods.

Fertilizer Manufacturers (B2C Upstream Integration)

In addition to end-users, we provide a powdered, high-concentration microbial solution that can be sold directly to fertilizer manufacturers as a value-added input. By integrating our product, upstream manufacturers can fortify their own fertilizer blends with Fe/Zn bioavailability features, differentiating their portfolio and meeting the rising demand for nutrition-sensitive agriculture. This B2C (business-to-company) strategy diversifies our market, ensuring wider reach and scalability beyond direct farmer adoption.

3.4 Price of Our Product

Product name: Niconaut

Product Price: 99rmb per pack( 13.82 Dollars)

Pricing logic:

Based on 2025 agricultural market trends, the ¥99/kg price for a nicotinamide enzyme Bacillus subtilis fertilizer reflects a suitable, value-driven positioning. This is justified by the advanced biotechnology and significant R&D investment required to engineer the bacterial strain for stable enzyme expression and a complex fermentation process into a stable dry powder—all contributing to this production cost. The pricing aligns with the growing demand for specialized biological inputs that support sustainable intensification and chemical input reduction, particularly in high-value crop sectors. The market shows a willingness to pay a premium for proven efficacy in enhancing plant metabolism and stress resistance, which this product claims. Furthermore, costs incorporate stringent quality control to ensure microbial viability and enzyme activity, specialized packaging, and targeted marketing to discerning professional growers. This strategy captures the value offered in a competitive bio-fertilizer market, ensuring profitability while positioning the product as a superior, science-backed solution.

3.5 Promotion

For millions of smallholder farmers in Asia and Africa, the significance of staple crops (rice, maize, wheat) is both a household food source and an income-generating endeavor. Our nutrient-rich fertilizers will allow these smallholder farmers to enhance the iron and zinc content in their crops, improving household nutrition and adding market value. Our fertilizer is also a component of improved soil health by adding organic matter, which stabilizes yields when drought and low-input conditions are prevalent. When adopting these fertilizer, smallholder farmers are not only feeding their families, but are helping their communities and doing their part in the bigger picture of addressing hidden hunger. The value proposition includes affordable pack sizes, visible nutrition, and possible premiums from buyers or fortification programs, making our fertilizer appealing to smallholders.

Local government, agricultural bureau, and state-backed cooperatives contribute to food security and rural development, but need our fertilizers to embed nutrition-sensitive policies to help reduce hidden hunger to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG2: Zero Hunger, SDG3: Good Health, SDG15: Life on Land). Our fertilizers can easily fit into public distribution systems, school feeding strategies, and cooperative inputs, making it a scalable intervention. Governments could rationalize subsidies and policies for our product because it addresses yield and nutrition outcomes at the same time. We provide substantive support to strategic partners for their subsidized agri-food programs using cooperatives, rural cooperatives, and donor-funded nutrition projects in ways that improve impact on community health and food security.

Large-scale farming companies, food processors, exporters, and retail chains with extensive supply chain needs can greatly benefit from our fertilizers. These corporates require a clear market advantage, and our products boost micronutrient density, allowing them to differentiate their offerings with consumer-facing labels such as “Iron- and Zinc-rich rice/wheat.” Adopting our organic-based, nutrition-focused inputs aligns with their sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets, enabling them to report progress on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Strategic partnerships with us ensure supply security, improve soil health, and position these companies as leaders in regenerative and nutrition-smart agriculture. Our value proposition includes volume-based pricing with discounts for large-scale procurement, customized formulations, and co-branding opportunities for fortified food products.

4. Operation and Marketing Planning

4.1 PESTLE Analysis

Figure 1 PESTEL Analysis

4.2 Porter's five forces

Threat of New Entrants (Moderate to High Barrier)

The threat of new entrants is moderate to high due to significant but not necessarily insurmountable barriers. Extensive R&D capital requirements in synthetic biology and microbial engineering involve special skills and significant investments. Regulatory approval under intense questioning from the EPA and EFSA for genetically modified products creates lengthy lead times and compliance costs. Intellectual property rights that shield engineered strains and applications deter competition further. The feasibility of contract manufacturing, however, decreases initial infrastructure costs, and niche market approaches to high-value crops enable entry on a smaller scale. Although these attributes decrease barriers, combinations of high development costs, regulatory sophistication, and IP constraints typically favor well-financed incumbents with superior scientific and financial resources to allow new entry to be challenging but feasible for well-financed specialists.

Moderate Bargaining Power of Buyers

Consumers possess moderate bargaining power due to substitutability, but are constrained by the differentiated value of the product. Producers, cooperatives, and purchasers can use conventional fertilizers, non-engineered biofertilizers, or organic additives and hence exhibit price sensitivity. Quantity purchasing is used by wholesale buyers to bargain. The differentiated benefits of the product, i.e., enhancing micronutrient uptake through novel biological processes, reduce direct price competition. Exhibited performance in raising yields and quality of crops, and the biofortified crop potential premium price diminishes price sensitivity. Switching costs also occur after the inclusion of the product within the systems of farmers, resulting in loyalty. Thus, although there are substitutes, the equilibrium between exhibited efficacy and system integration balances buyer power at a moderate level.

Bargaining Power of Suppliers (Low to Moderate)

Input specificity generates supplier power that is low to moderate. The majority of suppliers provide commoditized raw materials like fermentation raw materials, packaging, and generic equipment from multiple global locations with low leverage. Specialty materials such as proprietary growth substrates, regulatory-grade materials, or contract manufacturing for genetically modified organisms induce higher dependence on fewer sources. Those possessing specialized expertise or certified elements garner mid-bargaining power due to their products' crucial role in product quality and conformity assurance. In general, global availability of generic inputs restricts supplier influence, but technological and regulatory specifications for engineered microbes require selective use of specialized partners.

Threat of Substitute Products (Moderate to High)

Substitute products are moderate to high in threat, as there are numerous substitutes available. Conventional chelated fertilizers (e.g., Fe-EDTA) offer low-cost, proven solutions for nutrient delivery. Non-engineered biofertilizers encourage similar soil health without consideration of genetic modification. Organic amendments like compost improve the soil overall, and foliar sprays enable direct nutrient application. However, the product's unique method of action—inducing plant-mediated micronutrient uptake through nicotinamide biosynthesis—is unique. This targeted, systemic approach combines nutrient biofortification with soil health and pathogen control, unlike any single replacement. While substitutes abound and may be less expensive, this value proposition of multiple dimensions partially reduces the threat, but education in the marketplace continues to be essential to identify and emphasize greater efficacy and long-term value.

Intensity of Competitive Rivalry (Presently Low, Expected to Increase)

Competitive rivalry presently is low but should increase substantially. The niche for engineered biofertilizers is still developing, with limited commercially available products, enabling pioneers to build markets without much pricing pressure. However, big agribusiness firms (e.g., Bayer, Syngenta) and ag-tech start-ups are accelerating R&D expenditures, anticipating business expansion. Future competition will hinge on evidence of effectiveness from field trials, economies of scale in costs, regulatory approvals, and training of farmers. Intellectual property will be the sword of defense. As the industry reaches maturity, competition will intensify around innovation, price, and coverage, possibly eroding margins. Early movers should bank on the time advantage to create brand equity and gain patents, as well as get ready for stiffer competition at maturity.

4.3 SWOT Analysis

Figure 2 SWOT Model

4.4 Business Canvas

Figure 3 Business Canvas

5. Risk Management

Low Brand Recognition As an early-stage entrant into the organic fertilizers with Fe/Zn market, our product has to contend with low brand recognition with stakeholders such as smallholders, government entities, and main purchasers. This low brand recognition may challenge the initial adoption rates of our product since potential customers have no trust equity with a brand they've never tried or heard of. To mitigate this risk, we plan to implement a series of promotional campaigns that will educate our audience about our product and establish a positive brand image. This will include demo plots and field days, as well as building partnerships with farmer cooperatives. We will also focus on early adopters' success stories to start building credibility/success locally. By working with NGOs and local agricultural extension officers, we intend to increase the visibility of our product, which will help add to our acceptance phase.

Transporting and Storing Bio-Fertilizers The transport and storage of bio-organic fertilizers are high-risk activities, due to the dangers of temperature and moisture, which can lead to decreased nutrient efficacy, decreased microbial activity, lowered or diminished product quality (potentially affecting customer satisfaction and retention), and reduced application in non-traditional fertilizer sectors. The risks related to transportation and storage will be reduced through robust packaging solutions like tight, moisture-resistant bags and bottles that protect the product while it is in transport or in inventory. We will also design standard cold-chain or controlled storage quality procedures and temperature levels. We will do our best to ensure our distributors and partners handle our products properly by providing training, clear expiry dates, and taking steps to protect product integrity from the time it is made until it is used on the farmer's field. Adoption Risks for Farmers. Farmers may be willing to adopt our organic fertilizer, but are unwilling to switch from their traditional or self-made fertilizers because they feel it is a risk to their yield. Smallholders are particularly concerned that the first time, if they have any kind of failure or reduced performance, it could impact their crop yield and their livelihood. To minimize this risk, we can offer small, cheap trial packs of our fertilizer, with demonstration plots showing the advantages visually. If we provide technical support and extension in the first cropping season, it will aid in the farmers' transition. Farmer engagement will be designed to feature feedback loops that would allow farmers to raise their concerns and get match-fit advice, in an effort to build trust and relieve their perceived risk with their use of our approach/solution. Government policy and subsidies risks

The successful adoption of our organic fertilizer on a larger scale may hinge on government subsidies or its integration into public programs. Uncertainties surrounding funding and regulatory approval could pose challenges to our market penetration efforts. To navigate this risk, we will actively engage with policymakers to present data-backed evidence of the benefits our product offers, particularly in relation to yield improvement and human nutrition outcomes. By positioning our fertilizer as aligned with national nutrition and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets, we aim to enhance its eligibility for subsidies. Additionally, piloting programs with government-backed cooperatives will not only demonstrate the effectiveness of our product but also lay the groundwork for long-term policy support, ensuring a stable environment for our business to thrive.

6. Finance Forecast

6.1 Our BP Step and Milestone

Phase 1 – R&D (0–6 months)

· Engineer microbial strains with optimized AtNAS1.

· Run bench-scale plant experiments for proof-of-concept.

· File patents for genetic constructs and formulations.

· Milestone: Prototype developed & IP filed.

Phase 2 – Greenhouse & Pilot Trials (6–12 months)

· Greenhouse testing in maize, rice, and wheat.

· Scale up microbial production in small fermenters.

· Gather farmer feedback for usability and cost predictability.

· Milestone: Greenhouse proof achieved & positive farmer feedback.

Phase 3 – Field Trials & Regulatory (12–24 months)

· Multi-site field trials to confirm nutrient enrichment and yield stability.

· Conduct ecological safety and biosafety studies.

· Submit a full safety dossier for regulatory approval.

· Milestone: Field validation completed & regulatory dossier submitted.

Phase 4 – Early Market Launch (24–36 months)

· Launch biofertilizer in pilot regions (China + one international market).

· Train farmers through demonstration farms and workshops.

· Secure distributor partnerships for product rollout.

· Milestone: First sales achieved & >20% adoption in pilot regions.

Phase 5 – Expansion & Diversification (36–48 months)

· Scale up to multiple international markets.

· Develop second-generation fertilizers targeting other micronutrients.

· Build alliances with global agritech companies.

· Milestone: Expanded into international markets & new product line launched.

Figure 4 Accelerated Business Plan Timeline (in Months)

6.2 Our Revenue and Cost Planning

We have formulated detailed financial assumptions based on market research and local data, as outlined below:

1. Long-term Fixed Costs (One-time Investments)

Land Purchase: We plan to build our own factory on a 2,000-square-meter plot in Huizhou High-Tech Zone, Guangdong Province. Based on local market surveys, the land price is 1,117 RMB per square meter, resulting in a total land cost of 2.234 million RMB.

Factory Construction & Equipment: We researched construction costs for similar-sized factories in the area, which range from 1.02 million to 1.54 million RMB. We adopted the median value of 1.28 million RMB, which includes both factory construction and equipment procurement.

2. Annual Fixed Costs

Employee Salaries: According to 2024 local data, the average annual social security wage for private enterprises is 69,696 RMB. We plan to hire 25 employees, with corresponding annual salary expenses calculated based on this average.

Energy Costs: Referencing energy consumption data from enterprises of similar scale, our monthly water and electricity costs are estimated at 22,447.24 RMB.

Marketing Expenses: We will allocate 200,000 RMB annually for market promotion activities.

3. Variable Costs (Per Unit)

ToB Products: The raw material cost per unit is approximately 800 RMB.

ToC Products: The raw material cost per unit is approximately 3 RMB.

4. Revenue Assumptions

We offer two product lines (ToB and ToC) with distinct pricing and sales projections:

ToB Products: Targeted at large-scale agricultural producers, each unit is 50kg, priced at 1,090 RMB. We project selling 20 units per day, resulting in an annual sales volume of 7,300 units.

ToC Products: Each unit is 10kg, priced at 99 RMB. We project selling 60 units per day, resulting in an annual sales volume of 21,900 units.

Figure 5 Revenue and Cost Planning

Work Cited

Weffort, Virgínia Resende Silva, and Joel Alves Lamounier. "Hidden Hunger: A Narrative Review." PMC , vol. 10960185, 2023, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10960185.

"New Global Hidden Hunger Estimates." Micronutrient Forum , 2022, https://micronutrientforum.org/new-global-hidden-hunger-estimates/.

Global Hunger Index 2024: How Gender Justice Can Advance Climate Resilience and Zero Hunger. Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide, 2024, https://www.globalhungerindex.org/.

Gondwe, Veronica, et al. “Soil Type Influences Grain Zinc, Iron, and Selenium Concentrations of Wheat Introgression Lines Developed for Biofortification in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Frontiers in Agronomy , vol. 6, 2024, article 1305034, https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2024.1305034.

"Malnutrition in Children." UNICEF DATA , UNICEF, 2024, https://data.unicef.org/topic/nutrition/malnutrition/.