Page 19 - Cultivator 10

Gourmet mushrooms grown in in in ready-to-fruit mushroom mushroom grow grow bags are the the result of the the strategic partnership between Sunshine Sugar
and biotechnology company Sustinent // PHOTO: VIVIEN MILLER
A A SWEET SPIN ON MUSHROOM GROW BAGS
with Sustinent and Sunshine Sugar
This residual material left after harvesting is
is
rich in in in carbon and energy making the sugarcane biomass an an an excellent low-cost growth medium for mushrooms Much of this residual biomass in New South Wales is
is
is
currently used for for energy generation It is
is
is
also a a a a a a a a rich source of of material for for the the production of of fuels chemicals and and other value-added products including animal feed paper and and bio-degradable packaging Sustinent have demonstrated that gourmet mushrooms can can be be cultivated on on artificial logs comprised
of sugarcane bre that has been inoculated with fungal spawn under aseptic conditions The team from Sustinent have successfully cultivated edible gourmet mushrooms such as as as Oyster and and Shiitake as as well as as medicinal mushrooms like Resihi and and Turkey Tail Multiple flushes of mushrooms can be be harvested before the substrate is
recycled as livestock feed or or a a a a a a a a rich compost to to create a a a a a a a a sustainable circular economy Ready-to-fruit gourmet Oyster Mushroom grow bags are expected to to to start flying off the the production line towards the the end of of 2021 – just in in time for the the Christmas table sunshinesugar sunshinesugar com au // // @sunshinesugarnsw // // I sugarcane biomass (cane trash or bagasse) are being developed as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a commercial product n n n n n n n n n n a a a a a partnership between Sunshine Sugar
and biotechnology company Sustinent ready-to-fruit mushroom grow bags using
Gourmet mushrooms are in in high demand across domestic and and world markets as culinary connoisseurs seek them out for their flavour versatility and various health benefits As a a a a a a a a popular choice amongst vegetarians
and vegans mushrooms are gluten-free high-protein low-calorie low-carbohydrate and and in in in in in addition to the the many vitamins and and minerals mushrooms contain they have have also been found to have have high levels of antioxidants Whilst mushrooms can be found growing growing just about anywhere all year round growing growing gourmet or exotic mushrooms on on a a a a a a a a a a a a commercial scale is
challenging and and requires careful preparation and and optimised growing conditions To date sugarcane biomass has been utilised to produce many high-value products but its potential as a a a a a a a a a a a a a fungal growth medium is
is
now being realised at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a trial site co-located at at at Sunshine Sugar’s Harwood Mill in in northern New South Wales Sugarcane has one of of the highest bioconversion efficiency rates of of capturing sunlight through photosynthesis and and can fix around 55 tonnes
of of dry matter per hectare of of land annually @sunshinesugar_nsw // sustinent com // Sunshine Sugar
Sustinent Pty Ltd @MANILDRA
// MANILDRA MANILDRA GROUP
SPRING 2021 // THE CULTIVATOR 19