Successful Experience and Technology Sharing in Morel Cultivation
After years of effort, the scientific and technical staff of the Edible Fungi Research Institute of Mianyang, Sichuan Province, finally succeeded in developing morel cultivation technology. The success of this technology marks that China's biotechnology has reached the international leading level, and it will have a tremendous impact on economic benefits, social benefits and biotechnology development.
In the past, morels grew wild in the forests of the great mountain regions. Due to the limitations of geography, environment, climate and other conditions, they grew only once a year, with very low yields, and were extremely difficult to collect. The vast majority were never discovered by people and simply lived and died on the mountains.
Morels have extremely rich nutritional content and unique health benefits. According to measurements: they contain 22% protein, 3.82% crude fat, and as many as more than 20 kinds of amino acids, with a content of 47.47%. In particular, the content of the 8 amino acids essential to the human body is very high, accounting for 44.14% of the total amino acids. The content of various vitamins and mineral elements is also extremely rich, and some nutritional components exceed those of "cordyceps sinensis", earning it the reputation of the crown of foods. It is both a delicacy at banquets and a long-renowned health tonic in medicine, and is exported as a high-grade food to Europe and other places.
As early as 1883, countries such as Britain, the United States, France and Germany began research on morel cultivation, yet more than 100 years passed without realizing this wish. Comrade Zhu Douxi, a famous Chinese edible fungi expert engaged in research for more than 30 years, director of the Edible Fungi Research Institute of Mianyang, Sichuan Province, and a senior engineer, used genetic engineering. After 7 years of meticulous research and experimentation in the early stage, he achieved success for the first time in 1992. The initial stability and repeatability were relatively poor. Then, after nearly 8 more years of continued research, he finally broke through the ten great mysteries of artificial morel cultivation. Over 15 years, 918 trials were conducted, and commercial morel cultivation was finally achieved. Results were seen in the same year, with the astonishing benefit of an input-to-output ratio as high as 1 to 20 times.
As of the end of May this year, the pilot testing stage of this project has been fully completed. The entire set of technology and process flow is already very mature and has entered the production stage. At present, 2 million yuan has been invested in the first phase to establish its own production base. It is expected that half a year after production begins, 10 tons of dried product can be produced. After the entire project is completed, it will generate enormous economic and social benefits.