The project is coordinated by Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. It is implemented in cooperation with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden), the University of Tartu (Estonia) and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.
MUSA intends to contribute to enhancing agriculture sustainability by:
- using crop residues for producing edible mushrooms
- upgrading spent mushroom substrate (SMS) for supporting food production, substitution of mineral fertilizers and providing wastewater bioremediation solutions.
Mushrooms are climate-smart, protein-rich food sources beneficial for human nutrition and wellbeing. The project will focus on two types of mushrooms:
- Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)
- Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.)
Mushroom cultivation will be performed on substrates based on residues of local agriculture, food industry and thinning of Nordic forestry.
SMS is the main by-product of mushroom farming. Its disposal poses major economic and environmental concerns. Effective utilization of SMS is crucial for a sustainable mushroom industry.
MUSA will investigate SMS as a source of bioactive compounds and sugars.
- There are bioactive compounds among mycelium components, substrate phytochemicals, and fungal metabolites.
The project will develop green methods for extracting bioactive compounds from SMS. Extraction methods will aim preserving the properties of targeted compounds and minimizing degradation of non-targeted molecules. - Sugars can be produced by saccharification of SMS polysaccharides. The solid residue remaining after extraction will be evaluated as source of sugars. The sugars will be produced by enzymatic saccharification. The produced sugars will be used for cultivating oleaginous yeasts.
Oleaginous yeasts cultivated in SMS sugars are sources of lipids and bioactive compounds.
- Lipids produced by oleaginous yeasts can substitute imported plant oil. That will contribute to decrease the environmental impact of production of palm-, soybean- and rapeseed oil.
- Carotenoids and β-glucans will be extracted from the residual yeast biomass after extracting lipids. Carotenoids and β-glucans are bioactive compounds with antioxidant and immunostimulant activity.
The project will also investigate the use of SMS in agriculture and in bioremediation.
- SMS feasibility as fertilizer and soil amendment will be investigated. The agronomic benefits of using SMS in horticulture and agriculture will be quantified.
The microbes living in the SMS can affect agronomic properties. The effect of microbial communities on SMS effectivity as biofertilizer and soil amendment will be assessed. - MUSA will assess SMS use for removal of micropollutants from wastewater to be used for irrigation.
The SMS effects on water quality indicators and on a selected ecological process will be addressed. SMS impact on water ecosystems will be elucidated.
Funding bodies
The project is part of NordForsk Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change programme. It is financed by the Research Council of Norway, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences, and Spatial Planning (Formas), and the Estonian Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture.
Publications
- Martín, C. et al. Mushrooms for enhanced agriculture sustainability the MUSA concept. C3-Bioeconomy 4, 131-146, 2023; https://journals.uco.es/bioeconomy/article/view/16591/15043
- Martín, C. et al. Spent substrate from mushroom cultivation: exploitation potential toward various applications and value-added products. Bioengineered 14(1), 2252138, 2023; https://doi-org.ezproxy.inn.no/10.1080/21655979.2023.2252138
