On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT) held an unveiling ceremony to present the results of the industry-academia-government collaborative project, "Development of High-Functionality Mushrooms Utilizing Local Biomass." The event took place at the KIKUSUI-GURA GARDEN Lab of Kikusui Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. (Shibata City, Niigata). With a congratulatory address by Mayor Kaoru Nikaido of Shibata City, the ceremony was a great success, attended by over 30 representatives from partner organizations and collaborators.

The ceremony, moderated by URA Hiroyuki Saito, featured presentations by Professor Masahito Yamauchi (National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Kagoshima College) and Professor Takashi Yamaguchi (Department of Science of Technology Innovation, NUT) on the history and research milestones of this partnership. They introduced innovative cultivation techniques for high-functionality mushrooms (such as Hiratake/Oyster mushrooms) that utilize unused regional biomass, including rice husks and rice bran, as a growth medium. A standout achievement reported was the mushrooms' low potassium content—a functional characteristic that holds significant potential for the health and food industries. During the subsequent tasting session, participants praised the mushrooms for their excellent flavor, proving their high quality in both nutrition and taste.

This resource-recycling mushroom cultivation project aligns with Shibata City's regional vision of "Organic, Health, Tourism, and Disaster Prevention." As a prime example of the J-PEAKS initiative—where industry, academia, and government unite to solve regional challenges and create new value—this model is expected to expand nationwide. Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, the project plans to scale up production at a new industry-academia-government facility utilizing the former Honda Elementary School in Shibata City, further broadening the scope of this regional innovation.

Issued by

Head Office for Research Strategy, Nagaoka University of Technology (Saito, Takei)