𝗗𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗚𝗨-𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀

The PSTC Biliran responded to the request of LGU-Naval, through the Livelihood and Training Center for assistance to community on the production of mushroom using mushroom-in-bags technology. The office conducted assessment of the community needs and consider it for possible assistance under CEST (Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology https://cest.ph/) under the areas of Human Resource Development, Enterprise Development, and Nutrition and Food Sufficiency. 

Mushroom production had been one of the approaches to providing alternative and healthier source of protein as substitute to meat for the health conscious. Aside from being a meat alternative, mushrooms make a good ingredient for many meat-based recipes and formulations. 

On October 19, the DOST-Biliran Team headed by Dr. Romeo L. Dignos conducted a community assessment in one of the mushroom growers assisted by LGU Naval. DOST-Biliran noted that San Pablo Farmer’s Association started their mushroom production using improvised tools and utensils. They are using recycled drums for the fruiting bag sterilization and inoculates them with pure culture in an improvised inoculation chamber. The inoculated bags are then stored in a makeshift until it is full and ready for growing. The association then distributes the bags to its members and grow the mushrooms in their respective homes. They also sell the ready to grow bags to interested buyers. 

LGU-Naval committed to buy the group's mushroom harvest and process them to ready to eat products or preserve them to extend the shelf-life and make available the mushrooms to buyers. DOST intends to assist the project in terms of food preservation and processing of mushrooms and packaging them into marketable form. The use of GMP and Food Safety compliant equipment and process. The DOST also considers the support of the Food Research and Development Center of the Biliran Province State University as a partner on the conduct of formulation studies and production trials or piloting of developed formulations.