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Volume 30
Issue 23
10.3390/molecules30234518
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Opinion

Exploiting the Biorefinery Potential of Spent Mushroom Substrate: The Time to Do It Is Now

by
Carlos Martín
1,2,*,
Shaojun Xiong
3 and
Georgios I. Zervakis
4
1
Department of Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, N-2317 Hamar, Norway
2
Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
3
Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
4
Laboratory of General and Agricultural Microbiology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2025, 30(23), 4518; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234518 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 27 October 2025 / Revised: 17 November 2025 / Accepted: 20 November 2025 / Published: 22 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignocellulosic Biomass III)
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Abstract

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), the residual material left after mushroom cultivation, represents an abundant yet underutilized bioresource. With global mushroom production generating millions of tons of SMS annually, its disposal constitutes a missed opportunity within the circular bioeconomy. This Opinion article highlights why SMS should be repositioned as a valuable raw material for sustainable biorefineries and outlines the technological, economic, and regulatory steps needed to unlock its potential.
Keywords: spent mushroom substrate; biorefinery; circular bioeconomy; lignocellulosic biomass; bioactive compounds spent mushroom substrate; biorefinery; circular bioeconomy; lignocellulosic biomass; bioactive compounds
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MDPI and ACS Style

Martín, C.; Xiong, S.; Zervakis, G.I. Exploiting the Biorefinery Potential of Spent Mushroom Substrate: The Time to Do It Is Now. Molecules 2025, 30, 4518. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234518

AMA Style

Martín C, Xiong S, Zervakis GI. Exploiting the Biorefinery Potential of Spent Mushroom Substrate: The Time to Do It Is Now. Molecules. 2025; 30(23):4518. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234518

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martín, Carlos, Shaojun Xiong, and Georgios I. Zervakis. 2025. "Exploiting the Biorefinery Potential of Spent Mushroom Substrate: The Time to Do It Is Now" Molecules 30, no. 23: 4518. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234518

APA Style

Martín, C., Xiong, S., & Zervakis, G. I. (2025). Exploiting the Biorefinery Potential of Spent Mushroom Substrate: The Time to Do It Is Now. Molecules, 30(23), 4518. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234518

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