Chaolan Agroponics

Chaolan Agroponics is a major producer of high-end foodstuff based on the breadbasket world of Beitun III. It once provided foodstuff for the navies of the Rim Worlds and of the Star League, but saw its market contract greatly during the Succession Wars.

## Company Information

### Specialty

Gourmet foodNutrigel

The corporation has its origins in not an agricultural producer, but a restaurant chef, Ren Chaolan. Considered one of the best chefs on Beitun, Chaolan experimented with the wealth of spices and herbs available on the agrarian world in a quest for the 'perfect flavors'. His restaurant chain became notorious enough to attract wealthy nobles and entrepreneurs not only from the Republic but even from the nearby Commonwealth and visiting Star League diplomats and officials.

Before long, his dishes were exported as luxury food, though Chaolan often chaffed at being forced to compromise, and spend endless hours working on methods of producing dishes that would maintain their flavor and properties even if eaten weeks and light-years away from the kitchen. Over about two decades, what started off as a high end restaurant chain became an exporter of high quality gourmet food.

Starting in the Age of War, Chaolan Agroponics entered two new markets in response to the widespread destruction. The first was Hydroponics machinery and technology. With many settled worlds across the Inner Sphere poor in water or facing harsh weather conditions ranging from extreme temperature to phenomena, there was a crying need for a means for planets to produce large quantities of foodstuff with little water. To provide for that need, the corporation established itself as a major provider, though due Beitun III's low industrial base, much of the advance machinery had to be produced by a subsidiary in the nearby Zhuhai system. After the collapse of the Rim World Republics 300 years later and the destruction of much of Zhuhai's industry, the branch would be nearly wiped out.

The second important market entered during the Age of War was that of high nutrition foodstuff. The ravages of the Age of War caused enormous amounts of displaced population which often starved, either due to the collapse of interstellar trade or the destruction of local fields. In response, Chaolan Agroponics developed a peanut-based fortified therapeutic paste which could be easily produced in mass quantities and shipped to treat people suffering from acute malnutrition. With the end of the Age of War, production was shifted (but not entirely) from therapeutic to high-density food for interstellar navies and shipping. These products were especially common on Pilgrim-class mass-transit Dropships, who needed to make every ton of foodstuff count on long journeys.

## Products

### MediNut

The original therapeutic paste, made from a peanut base mixed in with oils, powdered milk and sugar. It was designed to be eaten by people who suffered from severe malnutrition, whom often could only take in very limited quantities and types of food due to their weakened state and normally required medical monitoring. MediNut is easily digestible and contains extremely dense amounts of energy, as well as fibers and essential vitamins and minerals. However it is not recommended for use as a normal food due to the especially high amounts of nutrients.

### StarGel

Based off the previous MediNut, but intended for regular consumption by average people, it is radurized and sealed for a stable shelf life of 20 years. Nut paste remains a main component, but it is mixed with algae in a slurry that is naturally high in protein, dietary fiber, iodine and scores of vitamins and minerals without the need for additional fortification. The recipes are kept flexible to be able to be produced with locally available foodstuff, but peanuts and red algae of the dulse and pyropia genus are among the most common due to their ease of farming in large quantity.

'Classic' StarGel has a mild sweet-and-savoury flavor with a small hint of smoke and has been widely available to the navies (commercial and military) of the RWN and SLDF during the Star League era. A wide range of other flavors have been added after its introduction in 2608, ranging from bacon to chocolate, in order to break the monotony of always eating the same thing on a months-long trip through space. A typical 200g pack of StarGel provides roughly 3'000 calories and is enough for one day's needs of a grown adult male.

### WakeGel

Briefly introduced in 2762 for the military market, WakeGel is essentially a compact, high density and convenient gel version of a beefed up energy drink. It is chock full of carbohydrates to provide short term energy, but also a significant quantity of guarana extract, providing a slow release of caffeine-like wakefulness over several hours. It also contains a small amount of khat extract, which metabolizes as a mild (10%) form of amphetamine, acting as a stimulant that increases concentration, alertness and excitation. WakeGel was provided to MechWarrior and ASF pilots of the RWR's Imperial Divisions, allowing them to operate in continuous, uninterrupted combat situations for several days at a time. Production stopped after the Republic was occupied by Kerensky, then dismantled, but it would be restarted by the Ashen Corsacs after their conquest of Beitun.