Promoting Circular Economy Through Sustainable Agriculture in Hidalgo: Recycling of Agro-Industrial Waste for Production of High Nutritional Native Mushrooms

The effect of climate change on agriculture and its implications on food security are demanding topics. It is crucial to convert the existing methods of food production into a more sustainable, resilient and productive agriculture. Reduction of food loss and waste will improve the efficiency of the food system, and simultaneously it will reduce the pressure put on natural resources and diminish the greenhouse gases emissions. This project aims to assess the potential use of agribusiness waste as a substrate for cultivation of Pleurotus spp., in order to contribute to the development of a more sustainable agriculture practices while promoting local development. The principles of Circular Economy are being applied to the most representative lignocellulosic waste of the Hidalgo State: pecan nutshell (PS), agave bagasse (AB), pine needles (PN), tamal leaves (TL) and coffee pulp (CP). It was studied the potential of these wasted plant material as substrates to grow mushrooms, of ten native Pleurotus spp. strains, with high nutritional value (seven Pleurotus ostreatus strains, one Pleurotus eryngii strain, one Pleurotus djamor strain and one Pleurotus opuntiae strain). In order to evaluate the different waste usefulness in mushroom’s growth, radial growth rate of the ten strains was assessed. Generally, the agave bagasse substrate promoted the highest growth rate. All Pleurotus spp. strains had slowest growth in control medium, PDA, due to the lack of lignocellulosic compounds.