Five Good Reasons to Build a Mushroom Farm

Mushroom farming is one of the most rewarding and profitable farming in the agricultural sector today. Mushrooms have amazing health benefits that have given them popularity in the health industry. As a result of a rising demand, in Canada, one can even easily find a magic mushroom dispensary. However, in other countries that is not a common thing.

If you’re considering building a mushroom farm, and you still have your doubts, we will be helping you clear them in this article. Without further ado, here are five good reasons why owning a mushroom farm could be your best business decision yet.

Mushrooms are perfect for a plant-based diet

The love for mushrooms keeps growing year in and out. Mushrooms are used in veganism¹, vegetarianism, as meat substitutes, and plant meat diets. So, it comes as no surprise that the demand for plant-based ready meals skyrockets annually.

Mushrooms are rich in protein and other nutrients that can be found in meat. They also have a texture that makes it hard to miss eating meat if you’re on a plant-based diet². Now, many food chains are working on having mushroom options on their menus. So vegans and vegetarians can enjoy tacos, burgers, and many more.

The startup cost is relatively low

The cost of building a mushroom farm is low when compared to other types of farming. Depending on your goal, having a mushroom farm could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

A majority of the cost required to own a mushroom farm comes from land acquisition. Once you have that sorted, your farm is almost ready. All that’s left is a building (mushrooms thrive in indoor spaces), a water supply and drainage system, substrates, fertilizer, farming equipment, and a climate control system³.

You can always start on a small scale and still get your profit as a mushroom farmer⁴. An expansion can be done as soon as you’re ready to farm on a larger scale.

Rich in vitamin D

Mushrooms are one of the best sources of vitamin D, as far as nutrients are concerned. Since the pandemic in 2020, people have been prioritizing their vitamin D⁵ intake. While others prefer their daily dose of supplements, others stick to a more natural and risk-free option, mushrooms.

With the right amount of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, mushrooms generate high levels of vitamin D that boost the immune system and improve overall well-being. Dieticians have recommended mushrooms for vegans, vegetarians, and health enthusiasts who want a stable and 100% natural source of vitamin D.

Mushroom farming encourages sustainability

If you are all about sustainability, mushroom farming is a great way to contribute to the environment. Unlike farming for other food produce, they consume less water, and electricity, and generate less CO2.

The eco-friendly practices of mushroom farming make it easier for farmers to get the funding and grants they need to build their mushroom farms. The best part is that substrates from industrial wastes can grow healthy, edible mushrooms. By recycling compost, you get to save the earth and some money.

High yield

Mushrooms yield a large amount when it’s time for cultivation. The amount of mushrooms you get per square foot is multitudinous. Depending on the species, you can get up to 12 lbs from a 25 lb straw log.

The high yield of mushrooms reduces your vulnerability to poverty, as it is super profitable. Even small-scale mushroom farmers make a lot of profit all year round.

Conclusion

Building a mushroom farm is a great deal. Whether or not you’re farming for your consumption or personal use, you will be saving a lot of money and getting enough nutrients while at it. Now is always a great time to start.

1. Gheihman, Nina. “Veganism as a lifestyle movement.” Sociology compass 15.5 (2021): e12877. ↩︎
2. Fehér, András, et al. “A Comprehensive Review of the Benefits of and the Barriers to the Switch to a Plant-Based Diet.” Sustainability 12.10 (2020). ↩︎
3. Nakashydze, Lilija, Tetiana Hilorme, and Iryna Nakashydze. “Substantiating the criteria of choosing project solutions for climate control systems based on renewable energy sources.” Восточно-Европейский журнал передовых технологий 3.3-105 (2020): 42-50. ↩︎
4. Dorr, Erica, et al. “Life cycle assessment of a circular, urban mushroom farm.” Journal of cleaner production 288 (2021): 125668. ↩︎
5. Bikle, Daniel D. “Vitamin D: Newer concepts of its metabolism and function at the basic and clinical level.” Journal of the Endocrine Society 4.2 (2020): bvz038. ↩︎

Last Updated on March 11, 2024 by Sanjana