Ethiopia - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Mushrooms are very nutritious products that can be cultivated indoor using lignocellulosic waste materials. The aim of this project is sustainable farming practices by growing oyster mushroom in a controlled environment and organic substrates.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

This project is mainly focused on cultivation of oyster mushroom starting from spawn production to fruiting body in a controlled environment. The spawn will be produced using sterilized grains such as wheat and barly which are used as a carrier of the mycelium of the fungi(mushroom). After colonization of mycelium with in 2 weeks it will be ready for inoculation on organic waste materials such as sugarcane bagas, wheat and teff straw that can be easily available. The production follows proper sterilization techniques by applying steam sterilization method inorde to make the substrate free from contamination. After inoculating the spaw on the substrate in sterilized bucket, we will make the room dark since it needs dark environment for 3 weeks inorder to produce a mycelium. After that we will give a light source, water and air ventilation for the production of high quality and quantity mushroom to supply for restaurants and supermarkets. Finally the waste will be used as animal feed.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

This project Use Mushrooms to Solve different Community Challenges such as:- 1.Nutritious Food and Medicine:- Many communities face malnutrition and lack access to healthy foods. Mushroom cultivation, offers a great opportunities to address food security issues and used as powerful medicines, supporting a healthy immune system, lowering cholesterol, and fighting cancer cell development, among a long list of other medical attributes. 2.Production Systems are Low-Tech, Easy to Set Up, and Flexible:-Mushroom can grown in a closet without the need of land like other crops and vegetables . The space needs to be kept at a consistent temperature. Also because of the flexibility and low cost of setting up production systems, along with the main raw input of low cost waste materials, the cost to start an operation is low. 3.Recycle Local Waste :- Mushrooms will consume almost anything that is high in carbon. Post-production mushroom substrates used as compost and as animal feed.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

1. Source of vitamin D:- Mushrooms are one of the non-animal sources of vitamin D. 2. Contain immune modulating nutrients:-Mushrooms contain active polysaccharides, one of which is a type of soluble fibre called beta-glucan. This compound activates parts of our immune system, including immune cells called natural killer cells and macrophages, and by so doing it increases our body’s ability to fight infection. 3. May be helpful in maintaining heart health:- Mushrooms have been shown to have some therapeutic properties that may help lower cholesterol, particularly in overweight adults. 4. May support gut health:-Compounds in mushrooms, including beta glucan, appear to act as prebiotics, fuelling the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and promoting a favourable gut environment. This is important because a healthy gut plays an important role in maintaining our immune defences, digesting our food as well as communicating with the brain through nerves and hormones.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The aim of this project is mainly serving the society by providing high quality, mushroom that improves high amount of proteins, minerals and vitamins. Also Offers alternative food choices to the customers by giving more awareness about the benefits of mushroom to consume it like other vegetables. Also economic empowerment of women through mushroom cultivation.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-09-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

For this business venture there is one female who graduates in chemical engineering. she has experience on experimenting on how to use mushroom in different cooking methods in order to be easily acceptable by society in the form of mushroom chips.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

l) Agriculture

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Mushroom is the most popular delicious, nutritious and medicinal vegetable in the world. It is an effective means for poverty alleviation in less developed countries due to its potential for a quick, high return of profit on a small investment. It can also create employment opportunities for educated and uneducated youth, person with disabilities and adolescent men and women respectively.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Numerous generations have been affected by hunger, which still affects of millions of people worldwide. Edible fungi contribute to is SDG zero hunger, which aims at ending world hunger and malnutrition by ensuring communities having stable access to nutritious food. Mushrooms are natural resources that could serve as functional food for nutrition and medicinal purposes. They are a good source of essential fatty acids which are polyunsaturated fatty acids vital for health and well-being. Edible mushrooms contribute to zero hunger because they are a renewable natural resource that contains many nutrients. These nutrients are high amounts of proteins, vitamins, and micronutrients.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Edible fungi (mushroom) contribute to SDG good health and well-being, which aims at reducing inequalities and building good health for all. Edible fungi or mushroom contribute to good health and well-being not only through their nutrients, but they also have many medicinal properties. These properties include preventing allergies, the development of cancer, and inflammations, and improving the immune system. By eating these mushrooms, we can benefit from these properties. Oyster mushrooms are a popular type of mushroom linked to several health benefits. In addition to being highly nutritious, they may promote heart and immune system health, encourage healthy blood sugar control, and provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Edible fungi contribute to equality because trading edible mushrooms allows women to lead local initiatives. This contributes to their empowerment and when production is done on a larger scale, it contributes to their technical training and educational level.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

The industry of mushroom cultivation uses a wide variety of lignocellulosic waste and is considered a very efficient way to recycle agro-residues and to produce food. This activity generates tons of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) every year. The SMS is a useful resource for the generation of biogas, since raw material is digested by the metabolism of fungi, performing as a pre-treatment, thus facilitating the subsequent anaerobic digestion and increasing the yield of methane production. The potential production of methane using SMS pre-treated with cultivated mushrooms should be added to the list of other common residues used, such as food/vegetable waste and pig manure. Biogas can be used as fuel, and the residues from biogas can be used as fertilizers for food crops. These productive activities can be integrated in a virtuous circle of reuse of organic resources; in which the waste of one activity is used as a substrate for another activity.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Considerations regarding the economic importance of the supply chain, as well as the excellent nutritional characteristics of mushrooms and their adaptability to the circular economy, render them suitable for sustainable development. Mushrooms are fast yielding, provide for nutritious food and can provide a source of income. Cultivation does not require high capital investment or access to land. Mushrooms can be grown on substrate prepared from agricultural waste material. It requires little maintenance and is a viable and attractive activity for rural, peri-urban and urban dwellers, in particular women and people with disabilities. Through the provision of income and improved nutrition, successful cultivation and trade in mushrooms can strengthen livelihood assets and an individual’s or a community’s capacity to act upon other economic opportunities.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

In the realm of agriculture, innovation is a driving force that propels industries forward. Smart Farming Technology: - Sensors and monitoring systems are now used to track environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels within cultivation facilities. Automated Cultivation Processes: - by automated inoculation and substrate preparation to robotic harvesting systems, these technologies not only increase efficiency but also reduce the physical strain on workers. Vertical Farming Systems: - Vertical farming is gaining popularity in mushroom cultivation, especially in urban settings with limited space. LED Lighting for Controlled Environments: - it is transforming the way mushrooms are grown. LED lights provide precise control over the light spectrum, duration, and intensity, promoting optimal growth conditions.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Reducing inequality requires transformative change. Greater efforts are needed to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and invest more in health, education, social protection and decent jobs especially for young people, migrants and refugees and other vulnerable communities. Within countries, it is important to empower and promote inclusive social and economic growth by ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of income. since production of mushroom can be practices with in small scale and can be started with in low capital different communities in different rural and urban areas can apply in order to reduce inequalities.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Mushroom cultivation is implemented on a controlled environment and it can now be different environmental factors. And due to this reason harvesting is not affrcted and continuous production can be achieved. This makes mushroom production to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns through circular economy.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Mushrooms are a fascinating species and provide innovative solutions to challenges we face in climate change. They have low carbon footprints, can be home-grown, have health benefits, are used in sustainability-oriented projects such as mycoremediation, and are being studied as bio-material to replace hazardous waste. As climate change increasingly affects farming practices, mushroom farming is one of the most viable and sustainable forms of farming.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

Edible fungi contribute to is SDG life on land, which aims at preserving land ecosystems and their biodiversity. Mushrooms contribute to biodiversity because they strengthen forest ecosystems. By keeping trees and forests healthy, edible fungi help forests to be a habitat for many different species. Also, by keeping ecosystems in balance, natural predators for pests find a place to live here too. This will reduce the need for chemical pesticides in agriculture and therefore supports conserving biodiversity.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Global mushroom production has increased in million tons through time to time. Mushroom cultivation is more practiced in China. nowadays, this production is experienced in different parts of the world by improving the production technologies and markets. This project also promotes global partnership through marketing also technological approaches.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

4

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

2

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

3

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

4

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

4

05.08 Justification

This project in focused on the improvment of mushroom production technology by applying a controlled system indoor.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Raw material suppliers, production equipment providers also the buyers such as supermarkets will be competitors. But by focusing on providing high quality and quantity mushroom with a fair price including high quality packaging method contains a detail nutricious and health benefit information of mushrooms

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

In most of the time I like to study and doing experiments specially agricultural areas to make value added product and scientific knowledge. Also I always gather information abount different plant natures and values for health since I am an Msc student doing research on medicinal plants to fight different bacterial infections. This practice encourage females