QLK5-2000-70230 NOVEL SPAWN - Novel Spawn Technology: an Innovative Concept for the Mushroom Industry

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Type of Project	Cooperative Research (CRAFT)
Contract No	QLK5-2000-70230
Total Cost	1,766,701 EUR
EC Contribution	883,349 EUR
Start Date	01-01-2001
Duration	24 Months

Abstract

Objectives

The objective of this proposal is to develop a highly innovative concept for the production of sterile dry substrate for preparation of mushroom spawn. This concept will improve quality, increase flexibility of production, and render EU-based mushroom growers less dependent of nearly monopolised spawn supply from the US. The industrial objectives are:

• the development of a novel production system for the substrate on which mushroom spawn is produced
• as well as the required machinery.

The economic objectives are:

• the reduction of spawn price by approx. 50% (through reduced energy use, lowered set up cost, lowered transport cost, lowered material cost, reduced labour cost),
• strengthening of the EU-position in spawn manufacture (by increasing the market share from ca. 20% to ca. 40% over the next 10 years),
• increase of competitiveness of the EU-mushroom industry through the development of a highly competitive production system, which will also force non-EU competitors to reduce their prices etc..

Social obiectives are to contribute to sustaining and extending of rural employment as well as strengthening and increasing the cohesion of rural infrastructures.

Activities

The ultimate objective of the project is to develop a highly innovative concept for the production of sterile dry substrate for preparation of mushroom spawn. Apart from the coordination Work Package four research WPs have been defined to achieve the objective, and to safeguard the quality and feasibility of this novel concept. These are as follows:

• WP1 will study the effect of the sterilisation procedure (sterilisation will be achieved through irradiation) on the structure of the spawn substrate, on how the sterilisation method will affect the availability of nutrients and will optimise the irradiation dose in respect to the quality parameters.
• WP 2 will focus on the development of the physical technology required to achieve the objectives. As the spawn substrate will be sterilised while it is dry, technology and machinery have to be developed to achieve fast re-hydration, sufficient gas exchange etc., all under aseptic conditions, to produce a sterile substrate with a long shelf life.
• WP 3 will focus on the effects of the novel sterilisation procedure on the biological properties of the spawn, i.e. its vigour to outgrow and on the quality of mushrooms that are subsequently produced.
• WP 4, commercial evaluation, will integrate the results of the other WPs to eventually estimate the feasibility of the novel spawn substrate production process.

The partners in the consortium all have a specific role, representing SMEs from the mushroom industry, whose commercial activities are directly linked to spawn production and quality, such as spawn companies and growers. Other SMEs involved will play an essential role in transfer of the generated knowledge to practical implementation. From the RTD-side, partners that are excellently equipped to support the SMEs with the defined research tasks, including machinery devlopment, are included in the consortium.

Contacts

Coordinator

• M J WINDSOR / Mycocell Technologies UNITED KINGDOM