Mass Producing Mushroomings Using Bioreactors

By Shanika Abdul Latib SINTOK (Kedah, Malaysia), April 6 (Bernama) -- "Masak lemak cendawan kukur dan daging salai" (split gill mushrooms and smoked beef in coconut milk gravy) is a dish that is enjoyed by many rural folks in Malaysia. For them, the mouthwatering dish is a feast that is even more enjoyable during the rainy season. Despite that, there are safety concerns surrounding the consumption of the fungus (Schizophllyum commune) that is typically found in rubber plantations. This makes it rather difficult to find in the commercial market. However, thanks to the research and innovation by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in collaboration with Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) and the Malaysian Agricultural and Development Institute (MARDI), it has become possible for the fungus to be cultivated on a large scale in a safe and controlled setting. MASS PRODUCTION The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation at Universiti Utara Malaysia(UUM), Prof Dr Noor Azizi Ismail said that cultivating mushrooms in bioreactors could help with the mass production of split gill mushrooms. A bioreactor is a vessel that provides the facility of carrying out a chemical process involving the organisms or biochemically active substances which are derived from such organisms. "This cultivation method enables it to be produced in large quantities so that they could be commercially marketed at a lucrative price," he said. The director of the Corporate Services Division of MTDC, Mariamah Daud said that the cultivation of mushrooms in bioreactors was typically only used in the industry for large-scale production of mushrooms. "This is the best solution in optimising the production of mushrooms as in Malaysia, the industry often faces difficulty in getting mushroom spores. Many of the spores used by growers in Malaysia for mushroom cultivation are from Thailand. The problem with this is that the quality of the spores obtained have been inconsistent," she explained. As there are currently no Malaysian company focusing on the production of split gill mushroom spores to cater to the ever growing demand, UUM, MTDC and MARDI decided to work together to come up with a feasible solution. Mariamah said that the cultivation method used could help address challenges in catering to the industry demand. HIGH IN VALUE Meanwhile, Noor Azizi, said that the RM260,000(US$1 = RM4.44) project which started in Aug 2016 involved three split gill mushroom enclosures housing 5,000 blocks of mushrooms have been created at UUM's Agrofarm site. He said that each mushroom block could produce 80g of mushrooms a month and could be harvested fortnightly. More interestingly, the three enclosures could produce RM36,000 worth of mushrooms per month, with an average yield of 400kg per enclosure. "Split gill mushrooms are more expensive because of its exotic value. It can fetch up to RM30 a kg and is listed as one of the high value agricultural ventures, aside from the edible bird’s nest, aquaculture, ornamental fish, seaweed, herbs and spices. "It is therefore suitable for graduates who are looking to earn a side income, as it yields harvest in as short a time," he said. The project has become a platform for more than 200 Agribusiness degree students to learn about high value crops. "We want our graduates to have a wide perspective in technology-based agricultural entrepreneurship," he said. There is great potential in the flourishing mushroom industry, some of which includes the manufacturing of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. -- BERNAMA