Fungi Blocks for Fresh Crops

The Teaching Greenhouse (TGH) provides hands-on learning and showcases sustainable food production, and several hundred pounds of fresh produce are harvested each week. However, the TGH currently relies on a non-renewable and non-compostable soilless substrate called rockwool to sow seeds and grow plants. This substance is mined from lava rock, requires a lot of energy to produce, and cannot be reused. Fungi Blocks for Fresh Crops tackles this problem by teaming up with the Mycology Lab and the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (UA-CEAC) to develop a sustainable substrate using mushroom mycelia grown from local agricultural waste, establishing a bio-circular system that minimizes waste and enhances local food production. These fungi blocks will be used to grow fresh produce in the TGH with opportunities for education demonstrations and comparisons with rockwool substrate.  

The Fungi Blocks for Fresh Crops project provides many opportunities for student leadership and engagement through their seven student positions, who will be integrated throughout the entire process. Additionally, TGH is integrated within multiple university classes where students can engage directly with and learn from the research. The wider Tucson community can also profit from this project as UA-CEAC regularly holds tours with local high schools, community colleges, and other local organizations.