Agricultural biomass waste resource utilization: preparation of high-value feed protein via edible fungi fermentation technology
<sec><p indent="0mm">Against the backdrop of global population growth and the rapid development of animal husbandry, the shortage of traditional feed protein resources and the environmental pollution caused by agricultural biomass waste pose significant challenges to sustainable development. As a major agricultural country, China produces a large amount of crop straw and other wastes rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin every year. Their complex lignocellulosic structure results in low direct feeding value and insufficient resource utilization. In this context, edible mushroom fermentation technology, as an innovative biological conversion pathway, provides a highly promising solution to simultaneously address the dual challenges of “feed protein shortage” and “agricultural waste pollution”, offering significant economic, environmental, and social benefits. The core of this technology lies in the complex enzyme systems secreted by edible mushrooms, such as cellulase, hemicellulose, and laccase, which can efficiently degrade lignocellulosic structures, converting them into small-molecule nutrients like soluble sugars and amino acids. Concurrently, the substantial proliferation of mycelium and enrichment of fungal protein transform low-value fibrous substrates into high-value protein resources. </sec><sec> The efficacy of this technology in enhancing the nutritional value of agricultural wastes has been well documented. For instance, solid-state fermentation of Eucommia ulmoides processing by-products using Hericium erinaceus and Flammulina velutipes achieved remarkable degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Similarly, submerged fermentation of rice hull bran with Agrocybe aegerita and F. velutipes increased the soluble dietary fiber content more than fourfold. In another example, co-fermentation of rape straw and Pennisetum purpureum with Pleurotus citrinopileatus elevated the crude protein content to 8.8% while reducing crude fiber, thereby converting the indigestible agricultural residues into a high-value feed with balanced nutrition and excellent palatability. </sec><sec> The efficacy of such fermented products in animal husbandry has been well established. Research in ruminants has yielded promising results. For instance, feeding goats Ganoderma lucidum-fermented corn stover significantly improved their feed intake and digestibility. In dairy cows, supplementing diets with Pleurotus ostreatus-fermented wheat stover enhanced dry matter intake, average daily gain, and milk yield. Furthermore, mixed-edible-fungus-fermented distiller’s grains improved the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of Guanling cattle. These benefits are attributed not only to the enhanced nutritional profile but also to the regulatory effects of bioactive compounds in the fermented products on animal physiology. </sec><sec> However, the application of this technology remains primarily focused on ruminants, with research in monogastric animals yet to be expanded. Looking ahead, the development of edible mushroom fermentation technology for producing feed protein from agricultural waste relies on interdisciplinary integration and whole-chain collaborative innovation. Future research should focus on the targeted breeding of efficient degradation and high-protein synthesis strains, intelligent optimization of large-scale fermentation processes, in-depth analysis of the mechanisms of action of bioactive substances, and the establishment of standardized product quality evaluation systems. Strengthening the degradation capacity and protein synthesis efficiency of strains through biotechnologies, such as gene editing, combined with intelligent control systems for precise regulation of the fermentation process, can further unlock the production potential of this technology. Moreover, enhancing the integration of the “agricultural waste-edible mushroom fermentation-animal husbandry” industrial chain and policy support are key to advancing this technology from laboratory research to large-scale industrial application. </sec><sec> In summary, edible mushroom fermentation technology not only provides an efficient and green technical pathway for addressing feed protein shortages and agricultural waste pollution but also establishes a circular agriculture model of “resources-products-waste-renewable resources”. Its further development will play an increasingly strategic role in ensuring national food security, promoting agricultural green transformation, and advancing ecological civilization. </sec>
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