Mushrooms, a Most Challenging Crop

How familiar are you with commercial mushroom crop production? If you're at all like me, then you've likely thought about it very little and and know even less.

Fortunately, I spent most of last week attending a science boot camp for librarians (shout out to fellow PTRC rep Denise Wetzel, who organized this year) and had an opportunity to learn about it from the foremost expert in the field: Dr. John Pecchia of Penn State's Mushroom Research Center and Mushroom Spawn Lab. Since the vast majority of American crop mushrooms are grown in Pennsylvania, a land grant university would take great interest in such a substantial industry. 

In the US, the most commonly consumed mushrooms are Agaricus spp., labeled variously as baby bellas, button, white, cremini, and full-sized portobella mushrooms depending (primarily) on age and color. However, Agaricus are among the most difficult to cultivate. They are picky about growing conditions, demanding as much as a year after inoculation and pasteurization before significant growth is possible. After that, they require 7.5-9 weeks to mature, at least a month longer than other domestic crop mushrooms. In addition, they are all harvested by hand, because there is no mechanical option available that does not damage such sensitive fungi.

Not that any variety people enjoy eating is easy to produce. Most edible mushrooms are particular about growth substrate and light, temperature, and humidity levels. There are lengthy preparations before growth cycles can begin. And consumers prefer mushrooms to have recognizable, attractive appearances that can only be achieved via certain methods.

What does any of this have to do with IP, you ask? Well, allow me to assure you that Dr. Pecchia did bring up the topic.

Presently, many people consider finding an efficient, effective and stable method for producing morel the "Holy Grail" of commercial fungi cultivation. Though they seasonally appear easily enough in the wild, consistently growing a morel cop has escaped most growers and researchers.

Therefore, enormous interest was garnered when a China-based company filed a patent for morel growing in 2019. Many patents and patent applications for mushroom growing and cultivation methods exist; however, most are aimed at small-scale production, improvements to the systems and products already generally in use, for oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and Agaricus mushrooms. 

For example, patents 11,678,618 (Mushroom Growing Apparatus, Systems and Methods); 11,582,921 (System for Growing Mushrooms); and 11,166,418 (Methods and Devices for Producing Mushrooms) are all improvements to the most common methods for commercial mushroom growing. Each features an indoor array of stacked trays, with a growing substrate and controlled climate. 

11,582,921 includes a conveyor belt to move the trays to harvesters.

11,582,921's conveyor belt improvement for harvesting and picking

11,678,618 is mostly focused on environmental controls, like temperature and humidity levels, but also monitors pressure and water levels. 11,166,418 claims a unique tray configuration and steps to preparing them for mushroom growth.

US 11,166,418 image showing the unique tray shape and configuration

It is the focus on morels that sets US 11,277,980 (Planting Method for Morels) apart. No other mushrooms are mentioned, and the method is meant for morels alone. For many years, many have hoped to successfully domesticate them as crops.

Cover page from US 11,277,980

It is difficult to say if Sichuan Three Point Water Biotechnology Co. Ltd has indeed obtained the Holy Grail of commercial mushroom cultivation, but the fact that there hasn't been a major increase in morel production, new patents for improvements, and Dr. Pecchia's seeming skepticism, all suggest that there's still quite a ways to go.

Nonetheless, this got me thinking about commercial mushroom cultivation patents in general. And I'm pleased to let you know that there are many more! But as this post as grown lengthy, check back later for some IP related to mechanical and/or robotic mushroom harvesting.