Using agricultural by-products to grow Ganoderma lucidum
For many years, Ganoderma lucidum has been known as a medicinal mushroom with high biological activity, supporting immune enhancement and overall health. However, its cultivation in Vietnam still faces many challenges, especially regarding substrate cost and environmental control. Since 2015, Dr. Tuong has begun researching Ganoderma lucidum cultivation.
Dr. Tran Duc Tuong (third from the left) introduces the Ganoderma lucidum cultivation modelusing an improved IoT‑integrated process. Photo: DUY TAN
Through research and experimentation, he found that corn cobs and rice husks—abundant and inexpensive by‑products in the Mekong Delta—contain high levels of cellulose and nutrients, making them highly suitable for mycelium development. Not only do they support strong mycelial growth, but using local materials also significantly reduces transportation costs, ensures a stable supply, and helps address the problem of post‑harvest agricultural waste.
“Previously, there had been no research that effectively utilized corn cobs and rice husks to cultivate Ganoderma lucidum. Through our experiments, we found that this is a highly feasible direction for the Mekong Delta region,” Dr. Tuong shared.
Dr. Tuong continues to refine the cultivation process by integrating an IoT‑based environmental monitoring system.Photo: DUY TAN
Breakthrough with IoT technology
Beyond improving the substrate, Dr. Tuong’s research team further enhanced the cultivation process by integrating an IoT‑based environmental monitoring system. As part of a provincial‑level scientific project, a pilot production model consisting of 3,000 Ganoderma lucidum spawn bags was built and tested.
The IoT system allows precise monitoring and control of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light—key conditions that determine mycelial growth and fruiting performance. As a result, the average yield reached 87.35 g of fresh mushrooms per bag—significantly higher than the 64.11 g per bag achieved with traditional methods. The biological efficiency of the improved model also increased to 22.69%.
The Ganoderma lucidum cultivation process is being implemented at Dong Thap University and is ready for transfer to farmers, cooperatives, and businesses for product commercialization.Photo: DUY TAN
According to the research team, accurate environmental control using modern technology helps optimize growth conditions, stabilize mushroom quality, and reduce production risks. From a practical standpoint, the IoT-integrated cultivation process not only improves economic efficiency but also opens opportunities for automation, labor savings, and greater sustainability in high-tech agriculture.
Dr. Tuong’s scientific contributions have been recognized with the first prize at the 16th Dong Thap Province Technical Innovation Contest and were honored in the "Vietnam Innovation Golden Book 2023." The project also received a consolation prize at the Mekong Delta Startup Innovation Competition organized by VCCI Can Tho.
With advantages such as easy cultivation, low cost, high efficiency, and effective use of agricultural by-products, the Ganoderma lucidum cultivation model using corn cobs and rice husks is expected to open new directions for medicinal mushroom production and sustainable high-tech agriculture in the Mekong Delta.
Source: Thanhnien Newspapershttps://thanhnien.vn/thay-giao-mien-tay-trong-nam-van-chi-do-bang-quy-trinh-cai-tien-tich-hop-iot-18526020810230834.htmTranslation: Chanh Truc