Ibara Mushroom House’s circular agriculture with fungi farming

A mushroom cultivation initiative in Ibara city, known as Ibara Mushroom House, is redefining the cultivation and use of fungi, not only as a healthful addition to our diets, but as a solution to sustainable farming practices.

Starting last month, Ibara Mushroom House began sale of dried Tamogi mushrooms, known as “Golden Mushrooms,” via their online shop. The Tamogi mushroom, rich in ergothioneine — a rare nutrient known for its potential health and beauty benefits — forms the centerpiece of their fungi cultivation efforts.

Mushrooms, renowned for their high dietary fiber content, have long been used in traditional medicinal cuisines and are known for their gut-friendly nature. The Ibara Mushroom House, apart from Tamogi mushrooms, also cultivates Shiitake, a staple in many kitchens, and Kikurage, or wood ear mushrooms.

The cultivation process, which utilizes a regulated temperature and humidity system, allows for precise growth control, offering more reliability than traditional open-field farming. This strategy also allows for flexibility in work schedules, presenting potential employment opportunities, a bonus for the local workforce.

However, mushroom cultivation doesn’t come without its challenges. One such issue is the disposal of the culture medium, or the substrate on which the mushrooms grow, once the harvesting process concludes.

The innovative solution Ibara Mushroom House has brought to the table involves the reuse of these otherwise discarded culture beds. The post-harvest substrate, which surprisingly still retains essential nutrients, can be effectively used as field fertilizer, thanks to its components like corn powder and sawdust.

In a weekly cycle, the Ibara Mushroom House generates around 250 used culture beds out of a total of 6,000. These used beds are then integrated back into farming as compost, enabling the growth of new crops. This eco-friendly approach allows for the transformation of potential waste into a valuable resource, embodying the principles of circular agriculture and sustainability.