Kiss your waste!
MUSHNOMICS objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of dynamic data-driven analytics for multidomain mushroom production environments in order to optimize yield, lower costs and improve the economic viability of this agri-food sector. It takes a full-chain systems-based approach, from producer to consumer and beyond (valorisation). Consequently, MUSHNOMICS mobilizes a balanced and meaningful research-practice partnership (50-50 research-business split), including research-intensive academics with strong industry involvement from Denmark, Hungary, Ireland and Romania. MUSHNOMICS recognizes the pivotal role of the consumer in 'driving' the market for food. Therefore, it will perform a multiperspective analysis of the mushroom value chain with the active participation of key stakeholders from the beginning in the project. From the industry perspective, it will carry out mushroom production trials and optimize yields under real commercial settings by the synergistic use of “key” smart sensor solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence algorithms (AI). MUSHNOMICS will also evaluate ways for the further use of the by-product generated during the proposed activities i.e. spent cultivation mushroom substrate (SMS) in line with the zero-waste strategy. Technology will be applied for gathering data from vast networks in real-time using the MUSHNOMICS Module transmit these data to MUSHNOMICS Cloud, develop large data banks, undertake data analytics to deliver mined and collated data to the relevant stakeholders in real-time. This will be enabled through the MUSHNOMICS Digital Platform, a portal to the global community. MUSHNOMICS will lead to advancements in the application of digital technologies to harness data for improving the performance of the mushroom value chain towards achieving sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. The MUSHNOMICS project will deliver practical, commercially viable digital technology solutions for value chain process control from production to end of
life while including a variety of actors along the entire chain. The MUSHNOMICS practical solutions will lead to the development of new paradigm in the mushroom value chain, which will be demonstrated at TRL7 for post-project exploitation by the SME partners
The mushroom value chain agents were studied to identify the key players within the supply chain, the geographical location of value chain agents, logistical issues, the volume and variety of materials moving through the supply chain. We provided insights into relevance of inter-supply chain relationships (e.g. the interactions between different supply chains) and the regulatory and institutional issues affecting each value chain agent of the supply chain.
There is a huge diversity of unused wastes like paper, cardboard, packaging wastes, biodegradable waste from households, public kitchens, food business entities, kitchen gardens, lawns and hedge clippings that can be potentially used as a substrate for mushroom production. Currently, these wastes are mostly dumped in the landfills, which on decomposition releases greenhouse gas emissions and pollute our environment, which has adverse impacts on the health of the ecosystem systems and environment.
Mushroom value chain analysis was carried out to identify diversity of value chain agents from mushroom production to consumption. We highlighted the mushroom value chain dynamics using recent literature, surveys, interviews and field visits. We also highlighted the amount of available wastes that is available for valorization into mushroom production, to decouple the linear relationship between use of resources and production
The innovation provided insights into different wastes that is available for valorization for mushroom production. The research is in early stage and there is a need to carry out research on different formulation of waste types and categories as substrate for optimal production of mushroom out of the wastes.
