Composted Versus Raw Olive Mill Waste as Substrates for the Production of Medicinal Mushrooms: An Assessment of Selected Cultivation and Quality Parameters

This research demonstrates how harmful olive oil production waste can be transformed into a valuable resource for growing edible mushrooms. The study found that mixing composted olive mill waste with traditional mushroom growing materials produced excellent yields of various gourmet mushroom species. This process offers both environmental and economic benefits. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a solution for managing environmentally problematic olive oil industry waste • Creates new opportunities for sustainable mushroom farming • Offers potential economic benefits for both olive oil producers and mushroom growers • Increases the availability of nutritious, gourmet mushrooms for consumers • Demonstrates practical applications of circular economy principles in agriculture