Valorizing urban waste for new valuable mushrooms and ingredients
This project tests the feasibility of integrating urban organic waste streams into commercial mushroom production as alternative substrate inputs.
While fungi are known for their ability to convert organic residues into edible biomass, most existing studies remain limited to controlled or laboratory conditions, with limited evidence from real-world production systems. The project addresses this gap through co-created experimentation with a commercial mushroom producer in Stockholm.
Selected urban waste streams, such as food processing and retail residues, will be assessed, processed, and tested in cultivation trials. Performance will be evaluated using established indicators, including yield, biological efficiency, and process stability, and compared with conventional substrates. The project aims to verify whether such materials can be integrated without compromising productivity, while contributing to improved resource efficiency and reduced dependence on externally sourced inputs. In addition, a material flow–based assessment will quantify potential resource savings and waste diversion.
The results will provide actionable knowledge for implementation and future scaling of circular production systems, contributing to more resilient and resource-efficient urban food systems.
