Institute to Construct Mushroom Lab to Educate Visitors.

INBio, the National Institute of Biodiversity, located in Santo Domingo, in Heredia, has announced that it is going to start to grow wild mushrooms, or domesticate them as they put it; they are planning to build a laboratory that will dedicate itself solely to growing mushrooms! This laboratory should be opened to the public in December, this year within the INBio Park installations, a biological theme park that puts visitors in direct contact with nature and science.

When we think of mushrooms, or fungus, we may shiver a little bit; we think of the food going bad in the fridge, stale bread, and suspicious growth on our favorite food! Fungi are one of farmer’s worst enemies.

On the other side of the spectrum, mushrooms can be delicate and very stylish delicacies for a tasty snack or meal. They have even been valued in countries like China and Japan for their abilities to treat cancer, Aids and other degenerative conditions, and they also are recognized as being wonderful tonics.

To date, scientists have recognized 10,000 types of different species of fungi, but we know that there are still many to be discovered. In China, they identified which ones were good for the immune system over 3,000 years ago. In Japan, street pushcarts can still be seen selling medicinal mushrooms, mushrooms know to give a long and healthy life. Recently scientists in Europe and the United States have discovered how many mushrooms can slow down the growth of tumors, while others actually inhibit it.

In Costa Rica, mushrooms grow wild in the jungle and just go to waste, although many animals probably take great advantage of them!

Inbio came up with the idea of domesticating them, and hope to have some of the 125 varieties found in this country on the shelves of the supermarkets internationally as well as nationally by the end of 2010. Costa Rican scientists are counting on the support of the Fundecooperacion, an ecological organization that has been helping the Sur-Sur program since 1994; this international program hopes that the countries of Bhutan, Benin, and Costa Rica can work together in areas such as tourism, conservation and biodiversity.

The mushrooms in questions have been tested for their taste, their toxic effects, and their growth. Now four species have already been selected for this experiment. Two of these are actual mushrooms, while the other two are know in Costa Rica as Tree Ears, or Orejas de Palo, as they attached themselves on trunks or sticks.

To date we have now the Pycnoporus sanguineus, well know for its anti-inflammatory properties, used in Mexico to get rid of warts, the Ganoderma australe, a good tonic also used for its ability to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells, and finally, the Leccinum monticola and the Lentinula aciculospora, both rich in amino acids, protein, fiber and low in fat.

What Inbio is intending to do is still only experimental at this point. The team in charge is confident that this experiment will give satisfactory results and provide economical benefits for the country. Their faith is highly influenced with the partnership they had with Bhutan and its highly qualified specialists who made the production of mushrooms a reality. Once all the tests give positive results, the production has a green light and production will be on its way.

This is yet another way to help with the conservation of Biodiversity; using it to improve the life of the population, bringing it to everyone’s door, and take advantage of the little treasures found all over the Costa Rica map.

This post's rating:

Related Stories

Filed under: Costa Rican Wildlife on August 7th, 2008