Green technology for the sustainable repurposing of organic waste to produce fungi as a organic replacement for peat

This solution takes a holistic approach to the circular re-use of organic waste as a new substrate for producing an organic replacement for peat in the form of mycelium - i.e. the bodies of fungi, not the mushrooms. The solution includes a green technology process, that is low-energy, using inexpensive reagents (and water), and can be modulated to fit in small or large spaces. The resulting substrate produced from this process would be an ideal substrate for growing fungi. The fungi once harvested produce an absorbent myco-material as an organic replacement for peat. The circular link of using the island's organic waste from its business to 'feed' the island's soil systems for the growth and production of crops. This would create a virtuous bioeconomy within the island, driving reduction in CO2 emissions and providing a secure and resilient source of soil enhancement. .

The project could have a significant impact as it resolves 2 challenges posed simultaneously. Moreover it could show how a circular bio-economy works in practice on the island, by combining the outputs from one industry and cycling them into the feedstocks of another industry. This project would create new jobs, and the growth of existing industries, whilst lowing the environmental impact of organic waste on the island. Furthermore, the re-use of the fungi tyco-materials in the soil would have the benefit of returning carbon to the island's soils, and reducing the need for the importation of fertiliser. This circular approach could make Crete a 'beacon' of circular bio-economy innovation in action, spurring further investment in the island, whilst driving towards making the island NetZero.

The Sustainable Food Science and Technologies research group was established in 2023 under the supervision of Professor Chris Wallis. Having previously co-founded a start-up, the lead grew the business to a worldwide network of respect collaborations and a £2M lab with over 15 employees. Following a brief time at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, where he helped in the formation of the Botanic Gardens first spin-out venture, called Kew Reach, he returned to full time academia as a Professor at Cardiff Metropolitan University. His research group comprises of 3 major pillars of investigation: Plants, Fungi and Green Chemistry. The group mainly focuses on real-world applied innovation projects. Hence we often valorise our work not in academic publications but in new solutions for partners, businesses and institutions. The group is also part of the Food Industry Centre at the University, under its project Helix program, a £4M Welsh Government initiative to stimulate the growth of the Welsh Food and Drink Industry. In addition, since establishing the group, we have secured £196,,000 in capital funding to instal 2 platforms of green chemical transformation and analysis, namely: the Welsh Food Waste Conversion Platform (funded by Welsh Gov) and the Natural Product and Environment Analysis Platform.(funded by the Higher Education Research Council).

Difficult to say without more specifics but based on current development plans, I would predict 3 phases:

Phase 1 - Approx. £80,000)
Analysis of organic waste produced at Crete businesses selected for participating in project. Mapping types, quantity and frequency of waste production.
Continued development of lab work to refine green process, using mixed organic waste simulating that produced on the island.
Fungi growth trials - identifying mycelium that once neutralised has the same properties of peat when mixed in soil. Growth trials can be conducted on small scale sin our lab - trials will compare peat versus fungi addition to soil for plant growth.
Feedback to Crete partners to ensure alignment with real-world applications, - ensure feedback loop to course-correct lab trails.

Phase 2 - (Approx. £200,000)
Co-creation, with Crete partners, of a demonstrator site to collect and process organic waste on the island. Data collection and comparison of outcomes to previous lab results.
Mapping of business , supply routes and potential collection points for establishment of processing sites. Design and develop containers for businesses meeting their space constraints and food hygiene requirements.
Work with fertiliser providers in Crete to understand their production process and how the fungi material can be added to their manufacturing process. In addition establishment of a fungi incubator demonstrator ons-its to transfer knowledge and tech to grow fungi on the green processed organic waste, also produced on the island.
Trials to be performed on fungi growth and compared to lab tests to produce a dataset for future reference.

Phase 3 (approx. £100,000)
Development of total number of identified sites (hotels and restaurants) for an organic waste processing site. Delivery and setup of reactors including training in their use.
Identification of supply chain routes to understand the input streams of the 'processed organic waste to the fertiliser producer for fungi incubation.
Optimisation of fungi incubation on Crete to maximise efficiencies and minimise costs.
Plant growth trials on Crete to evidence the benefit of the peat replacement.
Dissemination activity within Crete and associated Pacman islands to highlight how circular innovation can enhance the sustainability of an island towards a bio-economy of NetZero businesses. .