Growing Agaricus bisporus as a Contribution to Sustainable Agricultural Development

Abstract Agaricus bisporus , the button mushroom, has a long cultivation history and is nowadays cultivated on a large scale in sophisticated facilities. However, recent research on the effects of biodiversity on genetics and on the technology of substrate making and cultivation has opened new possibilities for the production of this mushroom under various conditions, with the objective of satisfying the three dimensions of sustainable development: human society, economy, and the environment. Progress is being made in the following areas: high yield of conversion of raw ingredients to foods, limited use of pesticides for controlling pests and pathogens by using biocontrol and resistant strains, decreasing the consumption of energy by cultivating strains adapted to various climatic conditions, and greater access to technological innovations and to genetic progress.