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.
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.
In mushroom production, spent substrates or the soil-like material remaining after a crop of mushroom are further utilized as feed for animals and as major component in organic fertilizer production, which can be used in crop cultivation.
This technology is now adopted by many stakeholders, mushroom growers and farmers in the region for their efficient cultivation of mushroom. To name them are: Cabisuculan Mushroom Centre of Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Mushroom Center of LGU Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, Twins Mushroom Farm owned by Mr. Jeffrey Roque of Llanera, Nueva Ecija, Neu’DaBest Mushroom Farm owned by Mr. Orlando Neuda of Bibiclat Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, thus, ensuring food security and providing livelihood for Filipinos while promoting waste utilization and environmental protection.
The CTMRD continues to disseminate this technology to the community through seminars and training and extension activities. Through this, the CLSU contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on no poverty, zero hunger, responsible consumption and production and partnerships for the goals.
