Central Luzon is known as the rice bowl of the Philippines, being the region that produces most of the country’s rice supply. During production of this crop, significant proportion of rice wastes is generated. They have been little utilized for practical purposes such as for animal feed and fertilizer. Most farmers commonly burn this waste in an open field after harvesting crops, which causes serious problems on environmental pollution and human health.
Addressing this very serious problem, the Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CTMRD) of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) developed the “Zero Rice Waste Technology” that promotes the efficient utilization of by products and wastes, such as rice straw, stubbles, rice bran, rice hull, and grains from rice production as planting material for growing of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus species), lingzhi or reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), rat’s ear mushroom (Auricularia species), among other edible mushrooms.