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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FUNGUSCHAIN (Valorisation of mushroom agrowastes to obtain high value products)

Teaser

Summary

The European Union produces large amounts of agricultural by-products, much of which is still treated as waste or for low value applications. Mushroom farming is no exception and the FUNGUSCHAIN project was set up to radically change this situation. It has been designed to have a strong impact on the joint BBI aim in propelling a bio-based, circular economy in Europe. FUNGUSCHAIN will boost innovation on agricultural waste management through the definition, demonstration, and validation of complete new value chains leading to high value products. It will demonstrate its novel approach using fungal agricultural residues of Monaghan Mushrooms. Using a sequence of innovative extraction and processing methods (a cascade approach) we aim to process and transform mushroom farming by-products into high value products, following the requirements of a range of end-users. We aim to use different processes to extract valuable active molecules from mushroom by-products using extraction methods that are environmentally friendly, avoiding commonly used toxic solvents. We will use innovative methods to identify bio-active fractions of interest for different applications and will develop and employ early stage safety evaluations of the potential end products using green chemistry approaches. The unique consortium that drives this initiative includes 4 large industries, 8 SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and 4 research and technology development entities.

Work performed

In the first 18 months FUNGUSCHAIN partners developed an efficient cascading process that was scaled up to lab/pilot scale and in all assessments provided more than 40% of the raw material being processed into potential high added value additives and products. This method is designed to be environmentally friendly and avoids the use of chemical solvents. Still, it has been shown to be efficient in extracting valuable molecules from the fungal residues, including an extract with antimicrobial properties, potential nutraceuticals/anti-obesogens, lipids, polyphenols with antioxidant performance, soluble glucans and fermentable sugars. Further processing steps will complete the value chain to deliver end products like cleaning, food and plastic products. The cascade of technologies will include steps to process remaining residues that will be used for lower value applications such as composting or biogas synthesis, thus closing the agricultural cycle.

The innovative cascading approach has been firmly established and tested at lab scale. The modular processes within the cascade were further validated at larger scale with respect to yield, purity and composition of extracts and has afforded material in hand for end-user application. The processes have been evaluated on their environmental impact using LCA, an activity which will be continued and updated when the processes are scaled up and end-user applications mature. This will be done along with assessing early stage safety of end-products using a green chemistry approach without using animals.

Applications for use in a range of product lines are now being explored together with end-users. This includes application in the food area (special diets and functional foods), plastics and plastic additives (to be converted into bioplastic films, bags and gloves), and cleaning products. We demonstrated the feasibility of creating complete new value chains leading to higher added value products for new markets. Seven draft business cases have been designed and are being challenged, improved and further selected to create optimal value chains.

Final results

This integrated cascade using scalable methods forms the basis of both the next phase of knowledge transfer which started in 2018 and of the design and establishment of a demonstration plant. This will foster Monaghanâ€™s ambition to create a biotechnology-based innovation center that will lead to new innovative and profitable products, as well as economic development of rural areas. Functional foods and other product application areas, as developed in FUNGUSCHAIN are designed to feed this ambition. In conclusion, the FUNGUSCHAIN project is well underway to convert mushroom cultivation waste into high value products. In this way profitability of mushroom farming will be enhanced, creating new opportunities for rural development towards more high-end knowledge intensive bio-based activities. Moreover, to maximize impact, FUNGUSCHAIN aims to replicate the approach towards different territories and sectors, thus providing a major step forward in reaching sustainability goals and agricultural innovation.