SMARTmushroom revolutionizes mushroom production via its already demonstrated SMS-ADryer plant which converts mushroom production waste (SMS), currently generating cost, to an agriculture organic fertilizer, increasing mushroom producers benefit. SMARTmushroom redefines the current mushroom production “take, make, dispose” extractive model to circular economy model, decoupling it from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system.
We have developed and built a SMS-ADryer pilot plant of 100 – 150kW power output and designed the plant on industrial scale, which will enable converting 36,000 tonnes of fresh SMS material annually. SMS is first digested thanks to a two-stage anaerobic digestion process. The biogas produced provides thermal power, used in a water removal system based on a hybrid drying process that combines condensation and adsorption to accelerate the process and reduce costs. As a result, farmers using SMS-ADryer will reduce storage and transportation costs, enabling to sell to any region in Europe a new organic product adapted to conventional transport.
SMARTmushroom enables creating a new sustainable value management chain, from processing to transport and application, which involves both livestock farming and mushroom growing sectors. We introduce circular economy by upscaling SMS waste to a very valuable organic fertilizer (90-140€/ton). The EU industry will gain an innovative solution to an unsolved global problem which will strengthen its competitiveness. The society will benefit from this nutrient-rich product at lower prices and the impact of mushroom production on the environment will be lower, as SMS will be upcycled to an organic fertilizer in a carbon neutral process where no harmful compounds are released to the environment. The organic fertilizer will improve crop yield by at least 12% due to its low humidity content (28%).
We address EU challenges related to low-carbon economy by carbon sequestrating, achieved in a natural, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly way, enabling offsetting emissions from fossil fuel combustion, waste reduction, circular economy, improving the resource efficiency and agriculture and rural development by empowering mushroom growing communities, increasing their margin, boosting employment and contributing towards a more efficient and competitive agri-sector.
Each SMARTmushroom plant treating an average of 36,000 tonnes will save between €216,000-360,000, generating an additional turnover of c.a. €850,000 due to the sales of pellets for organic farming. Using SMARTmushroom solution, mushroom growers will increase their profits by 25%.
