According to research, over 2300 identified species of fungi have edible and medicinal value which significantly contributed to the global need of human food and medicine.

Hence, to embark on the growing state of globalization, the growing interest for cultivating edible fungi plunged to supplement, or replace, the wild harvest of edible fungi. The idea came up after discovering its nutritional value and at the same, its potential in generating income through trade.

However, most people in the community were unaware of the nutritional and medicinal benefits of edible fungi, they preferred to cultivate mushrooms instead. Cultivating mushrooms has been known all over the world and over 200 genera of macrfungi containing species were beneficial to people.

In the Philippines, especially in Bukidnon, the most common cultured mushrooms are the straw mushroom (Volvariella volvaceae), oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sp.), and milky mushroom (Calocybe indica).

About Mushrooms

There are hundreds of identified species of fungi which, since time immemorial, have made a significant global contribution to human food and medicine. Some estimate that the total number of useful fungi – defined as having edible and medicinal value – are over 2 300 species. Although this contribution has historically been made through the collection of wild edible fungi, there is a growing interest in cultivation to supplement, or replace, wild harvest. This is a result of the increased recognition of the nutritional value of many species, coupled with the realization of the income generating potential of fungi through trade. In addition, where knowledge about wild fungi is not passed on within families or throughout communities, people have become more reluctant to wild harvest and prefer to cultivate mushrooms instead. Cultivated mushrooms have now become popular all over the world. There are over 200 genera of macrofungi which contain species of use to people.