TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taichung Agricultural Research and Extension Station, under the Ministry of Agriculture, has developed new ways to repurpose used mushroom cultivation bags, promoting a circular economy in Taiwan’s farming sector.

According to the ministry, mushroom production in Taiwan uses around 200 million cultivation bags annually, generating about 140,000 tonnes of waste each year, per CNA.

The station noted that leftover materials inside the bags are rich in organic matter and trace minerals. If properly reused, they can add value while reducing waste and carbon emissions.

The team has developed a new compost by adding fungal fermentation agents to the spent mushroom substrate. This compost helps crops better withstand extreme weather conditions. The used bags have also been converted into odor-control bedding for livestock farms, reducing unpleasant smells by 80% to 95%.

In another application, the station mixed leftover mushroom materials with probiotics to create a livestock feed additive. Rich in vitamins and minerals, the additive can reduce feed use by 20%, helping farmers cut feeding costs.

The Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute has also combined mushroom waste with cow manure from livestock farms to create new cultivation bags. These recycled bags reportedly produce even higher mushroom yields than standard new ones.

Additionally, the institute has repurposed discarded mushroom bags for use in greenhouse strawberry cultivation. Most strawberries in Taiwan are currently grown in peat soil, with annual imports valued at up to NT$2 billion (US$64.9 million). Using recycled mushroom materials as a growing medium could significantly reduce those costs.

Taiwan’s mushroom industry faces challenges such as declining yields due to global warming, weakened fungal strains, and the threat of smuggled mushrooms from China. The agriculture ministry hopes these innovations will boost production and lower costs for local mushroom farmers.