Mushroom farmers in Wales are turning their biggest waste problem—spent mushroom substrate, the leftover material after harvesting—into bioethanol and health-promoting compounds. After mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, oyster, and shiitake are harvested indoors under controlled conditions, the substrate they grew in is typically thrown away, creating disposal costs and environmental burdens. This project tackles that waste by using a process called simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, which breaks down the cellulose and hemicellulose in the substrate into sugars and then ferments those sugars into bioethanol. At the same time, the team will extract bioactive compounds—polysaccharides, sterols, and terpenoids—that could be used in nutraceuticals, health supplements, or specialty chemicals. If successful, the project could give mushroom growers a new revenue stream from what is currently a liability, reduce agricultural waste, and contribute to renewable energy production. The work is applied and commercially focused: laboratory and pilot-scale trials will optimise the process, and the team will test substrate from different mushroom varieties to ensure the technology works at scale. The result would be a scalable, commercially viable solution for the energy, bioactive, and agri-tech industries in Mid and North Wales.
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**Valorisation of Spent Mushroom Substrate: Bioethanol and Bioactives Production for Sustainable Energy Solutions (VaSMS)** The VaSMS project, led by YR ARDD FADARCH ERYRI CYF (Trading as Madarch Cymru), focuses on transforming spent mushroom substrate (SMS), a by-product of mushroom cultivation, into valuable bioethanol and bioactive compounds, addressing both renewable energy demands and opportunities in high-value product markets. SMS, a waste product generated after harvesting mushrooms such as Lion's Mane, oyster, and shiitake---often cultivated indoors under controlled conditions---is typically discarded, leading to environmental and financial burdens. Indoor cultivation ensures optimal growing conditions and high-quality yields, but it also concentrates waste production, making sustainable utilisation of SMS even more critical. By employing innovative bioprocessing techniques, this project aims to unlock the underutilised potential of SMS, contributing to waste reduction, renewable energy goals, and the bio economy. At the core of the project is the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, which converts the cellulose and hemicellulose components of SMS into fermentable sugars and subsequently into bioethanol. This integrated approach improves efficiency and reduces costs. Alongside bioethanol production, SMS will be assessed for bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, sterols, and terpenoids, with potential applications in nutraceuticals, health supplements, and speciality chemicals. The work will optimise the SSF process through laboratory and pilot-scale trials, refining enzymatic and fermentation conditions to maximise bioethanol yield. Advanced analytical methods, including gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), will support the identification and profiling of new and novel bioactives, ensuring comprehensive resource utilisation. Additionally, the project will validate SMS from diverse mushroom cultivation sources to ensure the scalability and adaptability of the technology and protocols. VaSMS aligns with key environmental and economic priorities, including waste reduction, renewable energy production, and circular economy principles. By valorising SMS, the project not only mitigates waste but also generates new revenue streams for mushroom growers, fostering innovation and sustainability in agriculture. This project aligns directly with the competition's aim and scope, to promote outstanding innovation in agri-tech and food technology, fostering strong local engagement and long-term value creation in Mid and North Wales. VaSMS will deliver a scalable and commercially viable solution for adoption in the energy, bioactive, and agri-tech industries.
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