Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS), is the material left over after growing mushrooms that is no longer considered useful for this purpose. If not properly managed it can have detrimental effects on the environment such as development and spread of pathogenic microorganisms, uncontrolled waste biodegradation by microorganisms and the consequent emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the leaching of nutrients into surface and groundwater.

To prevent these environmental problems, there is scientific evidence that shows us that yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), an insect species industrially reared for its high content protein and fat for feed and food, can be partially fed (up to 40%) with SMS without detrimental effect in its growth and development.

With this project we are revalorising the SMS and producing high quality proteins and fats for the feed industry in a more sustainable way.