Latest news with #Ganodermalucidum
Hans India
a day ago
- Science
- Hans India
IIT Madras develops new agri-waste-based packaging material to help reduce plastic use
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed an agriculture waste-based packaging material, which can be a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic foams used in packaging. The researchers demonstrated that mycelium-based biocomposites grown on agricultural and paper waste provide quality in packaging while being biodegradable. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Bioresource Technology Reports, offer a practical solution to two major problems -- plastic pollution and agricultural waste disposal. By converting agricultural residues into high-strength, biodegradable packaging materials, the mycelium-based biocomposites will directly support plastic waste reduction in the country -- currently exceeding 4 million tonnes annually. 'In India, over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste are generated annually, much of which is burned or left to decay, causing air pollution and wasting valuable resources. Our research aimed to address both challenges -- plastic pollution and agricultural waste -- by developing mycelium-based biocomposites as sustainable, biodegradable packaging materials,' said Dr. Lakshminath Kundanati, Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, IIT Madras. For the research, the team cultivated fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, which are different types of mushrooms, on agricultural and paper wastes - cardboard, sawdust, paper, cocopith, and hay. This approach not only diverted agricultural residues from open burning but also created fully compostable packaging solutions, aligning with circular economy principles, the researchers said. 'The work identifies the ideal substrate–fungus combinations that outperform conventional foams like EPS and EPE, with Ganoderma on cardboard achieving compressive strengths an order of magnitude higher than EPS (Expanded polystyrene),' said Sandra Rose Biby, Research Scholar, IIT Madras. Replacing plastic foams like EPS and EPE with mycelium-based biocomposites can significantly reduce landfill burden, prevent microplastic formation, and cut greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production and waste incineration. The mycelium composites can further be modified to cater to other engineering applications such as thermal and acoustic insulation materials, the researchers said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
IIT-M develops biodegradable packaging from agricultural waste
Chennai: Researchers from IIT Madras have developed a packaging material using agricultural waste as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic foams. The team demonstrated that material made from mycelium the root-like structure of fungi grown on agricultural and paper waste can provide the required strength and quality for packaging while being biodegradable. They say the innovation could address two challenges: plastic pollution and agricultural waste disposal. At present, the research demonstrated feasibility at the laboratory scale, with mechanical properties, water resistance, and biodegradability, said Prof Lakshminath Kundanati from the department of applied mechanics and biomedical engineering. The findings were published in Bioresource Technology Reports. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "The way forward includes optimising substrate compositions for scalability and extending shelf life through natural coatings," he said. "These composites can also be modified for use in engineering applications such as thermal and acoustic insulation," he added. The team cultivated fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, two types of mushrooms, on agricultural and paper waste. This approach diverts agricultural residues from open burning while creating fully compostable packaging solutions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo The researchers explored combinations of fungal strains and substrates to develop composites with mechanical properties similar to, or better than, plastic foams. "The study identifies ideal fungus-substrate combinations that outperform foams such as EPS and EPE. Ganoderma on cardboard achieved compressive strengths an order of magnitude higher than EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)," said Sandra Biby, research scholar at IIT-M. Prof Kundanati and his team founded a startup called NatureWrks Technologies to develop and commercialise the product. They are exploring industry partnerships and licensing agreements to scale up production and hope to secure govt funding for faster development. India currently generates over four million tonnes of plastic waste and 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste each year. The researchers believe mycelium-based packaging can significantly reduce landfill burden, microplastic pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic production and incineration.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Researchers at IIT-Madras develop agricultural waste-based biodegradable packaging material
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) have developed an agriculture waste-based packaging material, which they say can be a sustainable alternative to plastic foams that are used currently. The researchers cultivated fungi, such as Ganoderma lucidum, a type of mushroom known for its medicinal properties, and Pleurotus ostreatus, an edible mushroom, on agriculture and paper waste to derive the material. They explored various optimal combinations of fungal strains and substrates to produce a composite material, which turned out to be sturdy, a press release stated. The fungal strains were allowed to grow on five different substrates — cardboard, sawdust, paper, cocopith, and hay — and Ganoderma on cardboard achieved a compressive strength greater than expanded polystyrene (EPS), the release added. With over 350 million tonnes of agriculture waste is generated in India every year. While much of it is burnt or left to decay, these materials can provide a sustainable alternative to plastics and significantly reduce the four million-odd tonnes of plastic waste that is generated in the country. The researchers have established NatureWrks Technologies, a start-up incubated by IIT-M, to develop and commercialise the product. The start-up will also pursue technology transfer in collaboration with industry partners, explore licensing agreements to enable wider adoption of these solutions, and aim to seek government funding to accelerate the development of the product. Lakshminath Kundanati, assistant professor, Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering, is the lead researcher and co-founder of the start-up. Other members of the team include Sandra Rose Biby and Vivek Surendran, both research scholars at IIT-M. The findings were published in Bioresource Technology Report, a peer-reviewed journal, in June.
India Today
7 days ago
- Science
- India Today
IIT Madras develops eco-friendly packaging using crop and paper waste
To offer a practical alternative to plastic packaging, researchers at IIT Madras have developed a biodegradable material made from farm and paper waste. Using fungi like Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, the team has created packaging that is strong, lightweight, and project aims to reduce both agricultural waste and plastic pollution, which remain major environmental concerns in team used fungi such as Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, growing them on materials like sawdust, cardboard, hay, and paper The resulting product is strong, lightweight, and compostable, making it a potential replacement for plastic foams like EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and EPE (Expanded Polyethylene) used in project is being led by Dr Lakshminath Kundanati, Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering. Alongside him are research scholars Ms Sandra Rose Biby and Mr Vivek Surendran. The findings were published in the Bioresource Technology Reports journal in June about the initiative, Dr Kundanati said, 'Over 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste is generated in India each year. Much of this goes unused or is burnt, contributing to air pollution"."At the same time, India produces over 4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. We saw an opportunity to address both problems together,' he move from lab to real-world use, the team has founded a startup called NatureWrks Madras researchers have developed biodegradable packaging using fungi (mycelium) grown on agricultural and paper waste, offering an eco-friendly alternative to plastic foams like EPS and research demonstrated high strength and compostability, with Ganoderma grown on cardboard outperforming conventional plastic foams in compressive strength.A startup named NatureWrks Technologies has been launched to scale and commercialise the innovation, promoting sustainable packaging and rural income past efforts that focused on a single combination of fungus and waste, the IIT Madras team tested multiple COMBINATIONS AND FUTURE POTENTIALThe team found that Ganoderma grown on cardboard offered the best compressive strength, ten times more than EPS. Water resistance and biodegradability were also Biby, one of the lead researchers, said the study's strength lies in its side-by-side comparisons. 'We tested different fungi and substrates and examined how they affect strength, water absorption, and decomposition.'The research fits into the larger idea of a circular economy, where waste is repurposed into valuable to Mr Surendran, such packaging could also open up opportunities for rural communities. 'This method creates value from low-cost, farm-level waste and could offer additional income streams for farmers.'The material, still at prototype stage, may also be adapted for thermal and acoustic insulation in the future.- Ends
Borneo Post
15-07-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
How spark of Chinese Juncao ignites ‘open-source' transformation for Tanzanian youth
Bisoma checks the growth of Lingzhi, or Ganoderma lucidum, cultivated with Juncao technology at his farm in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on June 5, 2025. – Xinhua photo DAR ES SALAAM (July 16): In a quiet suburb north of Tanzania's Dar es Salaam, morning mist hovers low over a plot of land where rows of green Juncao grass glisten with dew. Joel Bisoma, a 29-year-old Tanzanian, steps carefully between the rows, inspecting the growth of what he has sown. A few meters away, under a shaded structure, dozens of mushroom bags hang in silence, nurturing what he calls 'nature's quiet medicine'. Bisoma is the founder of GreenFungi Limited, a company he established after discovering the potential of Juncao – a Chinese-developed technology that uses specially cultivated grass to grow edible and medicinal mushrooms. In a country where sustainable agriculture is more of a necessity than a choice, Juncao offers something rare: a low-cost, high-yield system that is both environmentally friendly and locally manageable, said Bisoma. He was first introduced to the idea in 2022 during a training session organised by Sokoine University of Agriculture. Back then, he was still growing mushrooms using sawdust. The commonly used but risky substrate requires constant supplementation and is prone to contamination, especially when the sawdust comes from chemically treated wood. 'In the beginning, I didn't believe grass could work better than sawdust,' he said, gently pulling at a blade of Juncao. 'But I gave it a try.' Bisoma checks the growth of Lingzhi, or Ganoderma lucidum, cultivated with Juncao technology at his farm in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on June 5, 2025. – Xinhua photo Everything changed in 2023 when he traveled to China for a 45-day training course at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, where he saw full-scale Juncao farms, learned from researchers, and connected with farmers from other developing countries. The trip, supported by the Chinese government, was more than technical, but it changed his perspective. 'What impressed me most was how practical the Chinese approach is,' he said. 'They don't just teach science. They teach systems that people like me can actually use.' Upon his return to Tanzania, Bisoma stopped using sawdust altogether but turned to Juncao grass and built a small mushroom facility in Bunju B, on the edge of the city. The mushrooms he cultivates are now valued for their medicinal properties. Once dried and ground into powder, they are used to make teas and capsules that help boost immunity, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and aid digestion. Demand for his products has steadily increased, as customers find him online or learn about his harvest through word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and health practitioners. 'The training in China showed me that quality is the most important thing,' he said. 'That's how you build trust.' Rather than keeping the knowledge to himself, Bisoma has now begun offering free training to farmers across the country. Some travel from distant regions like Arusha and Dodoma to grasp the technology. Most are young or first-time farmers, with many being women. Bisoma guides them through the entire process – from preparing the substrate and managing humidity to preventing contamination and packaging the final product. Bisoma checks Juncao grass he grows at his farm in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on June 5, 2025. – Xinhua photo 'I want to make this open-source,' he said. 'We don't need to compete. We need to grow together.' Dozens of his trainees have started small mushroom farms of their own. Some sell to local markets, others to herbal shops. A few have even started exporting on a small scale. Bisoma envisions a future where GreenFungi is no longer just a company, but a cooperative with hundreds of members sharing resources and knowledge. He plans to expand into more mushroom varieties and develop simple home-growing kits. Collaboration is also underway with a local clinic to explore how products of Lingzhi, or Ganoderma lucidum, can be integrated into wellness programmes. As he walks across the field, a new section comes into view, soon to be planted with more Juncao. In his hand rests a small, neatly labeled bag of mushroom powder, ready for market. Bisoma pauses, smiles, and nods while passing by a group of young talents taking notes. 'This is just the beginning,' he said. 'The grass is growing. The people are learning. And the future – it's coming.' – Xinhua China Juncao grass Tanzania Xinhua
