ALTERNATIVE BIOSTIMULANT FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE MUSHROOM INDUSTRY (BIOSCHAMP)
Funding Entity: European Commission Horizon 2020 Programme under the theme SFS-04-2019-2020 – Integrated health approaches and alternatives to pesticide use (Grant Agreement No: 101000651)
Coordinator: ASOCHAMP-CTICH
Person in charge IRNASA-CSIC: Mª Sonia Rodríguez-Cruz.
Participants IRNASA-CSIC: Mª Jesús Sánchez-Martín, Jesús Mª Marín-Benito.
Duration: October 2020 – April 2024
Total budget: EUR 4,2 million.
IRNASA-CSIC budget: 172,562.50€.
Summary
The mushroom industry plays a key role in the EU agri-food sector. Nutritionally, it provides plant-based alternatives to animal proteins and is a source of vitamin D and selenium. Economically, it is valued at €33.7 million (2017) and projections indicate that it will reach €66.8 million by 2026 (CARG +7.9%).
Mushroom is a unique crop, with particular agronomic requirements and high sensitivity to fungal pathogens, which cause large losses to growers. Although chemical fungicides (pesticides) have historically been used to combat these pathogens, regulatory limitations on the use of pesticides and increasing consumer awareness are now demanding the development of alternative solutions.
BIOSCHAMP offers an integrated solution to combat the challenges of mushroom cultivation: an alternative sustainable substrate and biostimulant for mushroom cultivation, which will reduce the dependency and use of pesticides and contribute to improve the productivity, sustainability and profitability of the European mushroom sector.
