New circular farming, turning mushroom waste into beetle feed

Borderless Japan Corporation has partnered with the insect biotechnology startup TOMUSHI through its mushroom cultivation initiative “ONE TOYONAKA” in Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture. This collaboration is designed to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities while establishing a circular farming model that reduces waste. The project repurposes spent mushroom beds as feed for rhinoceros beetle larvae, which are then bred and sold, promoting sustainable agriculture through insect cultivation.

ONE TOYONAKA produces a significant volume of spent mushroom beds during its cultivation process, leading to high disposal costs and environmental concerns. These discarded materials, however, serve as an excellent food source for rhinoceros beetle larvae.

By utilizing TOMUSHI’s insect production technology, beetles are introduced into the spent bed facility, allowing their larvae to feed on the organic waste and grow efficiently. Once fully grown, the beetles are distributed through various sales channels and incorporated into interactive educational experiences for children, environmental education programs, and as a unique gift in Toyonaka City’s hometown tax system. Furthermore, rhinoceros beetle waste is converted into fertilizer, completing the resource cycle and further reinforcing sustainability.

The partnership demonstrates how agricultural byproducts can be transformed into a valuable resource rather than waste. Repurposing spent mushroom beds reflects the principles of zero-waste circular farming. TOMUSHI contributes its expertise in selective beetle breeding, developing strains capable of adapting to different organic waste materials.