Abstract
The use of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) in new cultivation cycles has already been reported due to its economic and environmental viability. When considering the application of the circular economy concept in the production of edible mushrooms, the re-use of the SMS within the same process is highly attractive, because it allows a better use of the biomass and the energy involved in the process and, therefore, tends to improve energy efficiency and resource conservation. However, this alternative generates important challenges, which derive from maintaining the quality standards of the mushrooms produced and, at the same time, not incurring excessive costs that are detrimental to the process itself. In our opinion, the main difficulty of the process in achieving success is regarding the biological and agronomic parameters that involve the production of the mushroom. It is useless to apply SMS in new cycles if the mushroom harvest is impaired and farms become non-viable. However, numerous examples are reported here where SMS was recycled into new substrates for either the same or different mushroom species without negatively affecting yield compared with using substrates prepared from 100% fresh raw materials. Thus, we suggest that each farm has its own specific technological study, since a small variation in the raw material of the compost, and mushroom cultivation practices and casing layer used, can influence the entire viability of the mushroom circular economy.
Highlights
IntroductionMushroom cultivation has a relationship with the conversion of agricultural and agro-industrial waste into food of high nutritional value; it stands out as an environmentally sustainable option [1]
Mushroom cultivation has a relationship with the conversion of agricultural and agro-industrial waste into food of high nutritional value; it stands out as an environmentally sustainable option [1].This metabolic capacity of fungi takes place through degradative microbiological processes, which to achieve their highest economic viability, and optimal chemical, physical, environmental and technological process/conditions must be controlled (Figure 1).Agronomy 2020, 10, 1239; doi:10.3390/agronomy10091239 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomyAgronomy 2020, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW EnvironmentalProduction process Technological Physical MUSHROOM GROWINGTemperature, humidity and CO2 content managementMechanical harvest, drip irrigation, compost added casing
The circular economy’s concept is to correctly choose the raw materials that will be the Economy basis of the activity, and to define correctly all the actions involved during each production phase, The circular economy’s concept is to correctly choose the raw materials that will be the in order to apply again the wastes generated in the activity on the same company [10]
Summary
Mushroom cultivation has a relationship with the conversion of agricultural and agro-industrial waste into food of high nutritional value; it stands out as an environmentally sustainable option [1] This metabolic capacity of fungi takes place through degradative microbiological processes, which to achieve their highest economic viability, and optimal chemical, physical, environmental and technological process/conditions must be controlled (Figure 1). Mushroom mushroom cultivation is carried out worldwide, the most diverse possible, from the simplest to the most technologically advanced [2]. Thisand factor allows species to be disseminated in different straw, wheat and rice bran limestone) This factor allows speciesand to cultivated be disseminated and regions with greater ease [8]. We will discuss use of SMS in new mushroom crops
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