FUNGUSCHAIN EU Project: Extracting Value from the Agricultural Offcuts of Commercial Mushroom Farming
Abstract
FUNGUSCHAIN project is implementing valorisation concepts of mushroom (Agaricus Bisporus) agricultural residues. Therefore, novel cascading approaches will be designed, in order to obtain innovative procedures to receive high value bio-based additives (antioxidants, antimicrobials and proteins), bioplasticizers by lipid conversion as well as biopolymers production from polysaccharides (glucans and fermentable sugars), using the remaining side streams and substrates. Final remaining substrates still being used by composting and/ or biogas synthesis, closing the agricultural cycle accordingly. The demonstration within a new biorefinery, including economical extraction methods, will attempt the industrial viability. At the end of the project, more than 65% of the emerged mushroom by-products/ waste will be valorised into high-value additives. Three key chains within European economy, namely, food, cleaning/cosmetic and plastic market will characterise and further validate the applicability of the obtained products within their production processes under compliance with legal EU and market requirements.
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