WO2019226046A1

WO2019226046A1 - Mushroom growing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2019226046A1
Application number: PCT/NL2019/050290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacobus Henricus Johannes Verdellen; Mathieu Willem HOLTERMANS
Original assignee: Mush Comb
Priority date: 2018-05-24
Filing date: 2019-05-20
Publication date: 2019-11-28
Also published as: EP3800991A1; NL2020982B1; NL2020982B9

Abstract

The present invention is in the field of a mushroom cultivation and provides an apparatus and method that improve the harvesting process. It further provides an apparatus and method with increased yield. Furthermore, the apparatus is very accessible to people harvesting mushrooms. As a consequence yield per unit time is increased.

Description

Mushroom growing apparatus

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of a mushroom culti vation and provides an apparatus and method that improve the harvesting process. It further provides an apparatus and method with increased yield. Furthermore, the apparatus is very accessible to people harvesting mushrooms. As a conse quence yield per unit time is increased.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mushroom growth has been studied during centuries. Many species of mushrooms seemingly appear overnight, growing or expanding rapidly. Actually, all species of mushrooms take several days to form primordial mushroom fruit bodies, though they do expand rapidly by the absorption of fluids.

Most mushrooms that are sold in supermarkets have been com mercially grown on mushroom f rms. The most popular of these, Agaricus bisporus, is generally considered safe for most people to eat because it is grown in controlled, sterilized environments, though some individuals do not tolerate it well. Several varieties of A. bisporus are grown commercially, in cluding whites, criminy, and portobello. Other cultivated spe cies now available at many grocers include shiitake, maitake or hen-of-the-woods, oyster, and enoki.

White mushrooms, like all mushrooms, grow from microscopic spores, not seeds. Plant-like organisms growing from spores are called fungi.

Because mushrooms have no chlorophyll, they must get all their nutrients from organic matter in their growing medium.

The medium-called compost is scientifically formulated of var ious materials such as straw, corn cobs, cotton seed and cocoa seed hulls, gypsum and nitrogen supplements. Preparing the compost takes one to two weeks. Then it is pasteurized and placed in large trays or beds.

Next the spawn is worked into the compost and the growing takes place in specially constructed houses, where the farmers can regulate crucial aspects as heat and humidity.

In two to three weeks, the compost becomes filled with the root structure of the mushroom, a network of lacy white filaments called mycelium. At that point, a layer of pasteurized peat moss is spread over the compost. The temperature of the compost and the humidity of the room must be carefully con trolled in order for the mycelium to develop fully. Eventu ally, tiny white protrusions form on the mycelium and push up through the surface of the peat moss. Farmers call this pinning. The pins continue to grow, becoming the mushroom caps, which are actually the fruit of the plant, just as a tomato is the fruit of a tomato plant. It takes 10 to 25 days to produce mature mushrooms after the peat moss is applied. Size is no indication of maturity in mushrooms. Perfectly ripe ones vary from small buttons to large caps.

Each crop is harvested over a period of several days. Typi cally two or three crops are harvested over a period of sev eral weeks . Then the compost does not generate enough crop an ymore; it may be regarded as "exhausted". Then the container (tray or bed) is emptied and steam-sterilized before the process begins again. Harvested mushrooms are set in carts, re frigerated and then packaged and shipped quickly to supermar kets, food processors and restaurants. The entire process from the time the farmer starts preparing the compost until the mushrooms are harvested and shipped to market takes about two to three months .

Edible mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines (notably Chinese, European, and Japanese) . Hundreds of millions of kilograms are produced yearly. Various species are mentioned below. In principle the present invention is ap plicable for growth of any type of mushrooms, of which the following are examples. Criminy mushrooms are grown and har vested in the same manner as the white mushroom. Porta bella mushrooms are also grown in a manner similar to the white mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms, like other mushrooms, are grown in mushroom houses but they require a bit more humidity and fresh air than the white variety. Shiitake mushrooms were originally cultivated on natural oak logs, a process which took two to four years before the mycelium colonized the wood sufficiently to produce fruiting. Now, however, oak sawdust is packed into poly bags, sterilized, inoculated with spawn and placed in environmentally controlled rooms. For Enoki mushrooms, beach mushrooms and maitake mushrooms even more complex procedures are used, requiring specific control of e.g. tem perature, carbon dioxide content, and humidity, as well as specific specially prepared substrate material.

The main cost involved in the production of mushrooms includes compost production, energy consumption during mushroom growing, mushroom harvesting and mushroom packaging. The har vesting of mushroom is still done manually. In addition to basic procedures, mushroom farmers use their own techniques to make the process convenient, but still it is very laborious, time consuming and expensive in terms of production cost.

Thus, the involvement of manual labor increases the production cost and also increases the chances of potential contamina tion. This creates additional maintenance problems.

Although there are some mechanical devices and methods for mushroom harvesting, these generally involve expensive tech nology i.e. video camera, mechanical platforms and other de vices. Further, albeit chances of contamination by physically not touching the mushrooms are minimized, which in turn also enhances the shelf life, mechanically picking of mushrooms re sults in a much lesser quality of the product. As such, the mushrooms can only be used for directly processing the mush rooms into food products, like conservatives.

Considerable effort has been made to reduce the costs in volved in production itself, but less attention has been paid towards reducing costs in harvesting, reducing energy consumption and in optimizing yield in terms of kilogram mushroom per unit area.

Thus, disadvantages of the prior art method are amongst others laborious and therefore expensive methods of harvest ing, and limited yield in terms of kilograms mushroom per unit area and in terms of kilogram mushrooms per unit compost.

A previously filed Dutch patent application NL2005617 of the present inventors relates to an apparatus and method of harvesting mushrooms . After extensive experimentation it has been found that an embodiment disclosed therein could be opti mized further, e.g. in terms of yield (kg) mushrooms per square meter, size of mushrooms being harvested, use of raw material, hygienic aspects, stability a system used, time elapsed between start and first or subsequent crop harvesting, ease of harvesting, etc.

A German patent application DE 43 02 273 Cl recites a cir cular system comprising a compost layer and a non-penetrable material directly surrounding said compost. The material can not be accessed by mycelium. The system is regarded to be rel atively complex. In order to control temperature and moisture further means are provided thereto. It is noted that as far as known the system has not been put into practice, possibly be cause the system makes it very difficult to provide optimal growth conditions for mushrooms, or at least over a prolonged period of time; in other words it is no commercial success. A reason thereto is that it is not understood how e.g. moisture, temperature, amount of air, evaporation, especially that of compost, can be controlled in practice. Further it seems at least unlikely mushrooms will sprout, as mycelium is expected to die beforehand, as penetration will amongst others occur to slow. The system does not comprise a covering layer fully penetrable for mycelium.

US 3,286,398 recites a system comprising a casing surrounding compost. Mushrooms seem to be harvested at sides of slats (left and right) . Similar disadvantages as with the above Ger man patent seem to occur.

US 1,773,648 relates to a process for mushroom culture wherein the mushrooms are grown in a mushroom house. Said mushroom house has to be kept at a low temperature and a fan is present within the mushroom house to provide active ventilation on the outside surfaces of the mushroom beds or trays. The disadvantage of such a system is that only the outside surfaces of the mushroom beds are cooled and that the outside room temperature must be approximately 10 degrees cooler than the desired temperature inside the mushroom beds to achieve the desired internal temperature. This is an energy ineffi cient (and hence costly) and slow process.

WO 92/09192 discloses a process for cultivating mushrooms wherein vertical ventilation passages are provided in the sub strate to provide passive ventilation. This method is not practical since it is very difficult to fill a mushroom bed with compost if a large number of such vertical ventilation passages are present. Moreover, it would be almost impossible to empty the beds after use. In addition, the passive ventila tion provides a very slow process that does not provide the required internal temperature in the substrate beds. This will lead to a limited mushroom yield.

US 2013/199088 A1 recites a champignon growing system con sisting of processed material, a shelving construction, a control unit, an aeration system, and a bottom which is venti lated and is integrated into the shelving construction which ensures the active localized distribution of the air flow, ox ygen flow or flow of gas of other consistence and the supply of these distributed localized flows to processed material or flow extraction from the processed material by apparently tube-like aeration elements connected to the ventilated bot tom, which locally direct the distributed air flow. So a bot tom that consists of holes and tube-like elements connected thereto for aeration. It is claimed that the shelf ensures es pecially even oxygen supply for the nutrient medium, present on the shelf and precise temperature control.

KR 2013/0035764 A1 recites a medium for mushroom cultivation is provided to improve growth of the mushroom by provid ing a large amount of oxygen from the medium to mushroom as the medium includes Gaia stone containing a large amount of oxygen. It seems humid air is provided over the mushroom beds.

Also there is a need to control size and amount of mush rooms. Further, handling is preferably limited to a minimum. Also an apparatus should function in a hygienic manner. Pref erably the amount of compost and/or covering layer, also in relation to each other, should be minimized.

In view of a prolonged use, e.g. at least three crops should be harvested, optimal grow conditions need to be pro vided, thereby providing optimal yields.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for mushroom harvesting, which overcomes one or more of the above disadvantages, without jeopardizing functionality and advantages .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in a first aspect to an ap paratus 100 for harvesting mushrooms or larvae, consisting of a container 10 (such as a tray or bed) , which container comprises a bottom 11, and walls 12. A typical size of a container is 1-2.5 m wide and 3-5 m long, but larger and smaller sizes may be used. The container can be filled with a growth medium layer, also referred to as substrate, and a cover layer (such as casing soil, peat, etc.), typically by using a sheet 28, such as a polymeric sheet, on which the layer is provided, and which is pulled into the container. The sheet may be provided with air release openings above the at least one duct, i.e. that the sheet may be substan tially impermeable to gas and liquid aside the duct, and permeable to gas above the duct. Likewise the container is emptied after harvesting of the mushrooms. Typically at least two opposite walls of the container, typically at a longitudinal end thereof, may be removable, detachable, or rotatable. The container comprises at least one duct 20, such as 2-4 ducts, with at least one duct wall 21, adapted to be in fluid connection with an aeration device, such as an air pump, a ventilator, and a compressor, the duct having an inlet 23 and an optional outlet 24, wherein the duct is located in contact to the bottom. Therewith the containers can be filled and emptied much easier, as ducts are not ob structing the sheet, a filling apparatus, or the like. In fact the sheet can be pulled over the ducts easily. Typi cally 2-10 ducts are provided, such as 3-5 ducts. It is pre ferred to have the ducts distributed over a width of the container, preferably evenly distributed, such as at a mu tual distance of 30-70 cm, e.g. 40-60 cm. Control of temper ature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide, etc. is found to be somewhat better close to a duct, but still sufficient somewhat farther (e.g. 40 cm) away. The outlet may be provided when for instance ducts of containers are connected in series, in parallel, or both. The outlet may comprise a valve or a closing means, such as a pressure valve. The duct therefore provides air, and optional further gases, such as CO2, and water vapor, to the growth medium and to the cover layer. The duct comprises openings in at least one duct wall (or likewise apertures, orifices, gaps) functioning as air releases 22 in the at least one duct wall, wherein the air releases are arranged to direct air flow in a direction b which direction is from substantially parallel to the bottom to perpendicular to the bottom, and wherein said air re leases are arranged to evenly distribute the air flow over a space of the container. In addition the air releases may be directed at an angle somewhat parallel to an air flow direction, such as at an angle of 30-60 degrees. As such a good control of temperature, humidity, and growth is achieved.

The temperature of the air provided is found to be less rel evant. Some control is preferred. It has been found that the present apparatus reduces energy consumption to about 80% compared to cooling of the environment in which growth takes place, which energy consumption includes the energy used by the aeration device. Almost no cooling is required in the environment. In addition even the yield is found to have increased by 5-15%, such as 10%. As such, by providing e.g. solar panels on the roof, a full energy neutral production cycle is achieved. In principle the present apparatus can also be used for double sided mushroom growth. As such a growth medium, and a cover layer may be provided on both sides (upper and lower) of the apparatus.

After substantive experimentation it has been found that temperature, C0₂, and moisture condition of the substrate can be controlled more directly, faster, and less extremely by means of to blow in air from below. The supplied gas can be much more averaged in addition. So no high peaks of 50 degrees are required, but now only up to 25 degrees. More qualitative mushrooms are obtained, in view of the less extreme control. It is noted that a mushroom has no skin. So a hint of wind or extra moisture has a direct influence on the mushroom. Because one can now steer much more evenly and milder, the mushroom feels better. They will therefore dry or discolor less quickly. Also the crop schedule is a few days shorter. For a cutting company more production is ob tained as the CO2 level can be controlled at a lower level and a delay of the maturation is obtained. Also CO2 may be added, such as during growth. In addition the delay in matu ration allows mushrooms to grow further, doubling in size in about 24 hours. A delay of 10 hours, which is easily obtain able, provides therefore some 30% increase in volume, which is very significant. The relative humidity can be controlled at about 70%. As mentioned a significantly less energy con sumption is achieved. There is less need to change the sup ply air and which is much more limited in temperature. Sav ings of 55% relative are easily obtained, and sometimes even 90% could be reached. The present ducts can also be used for cleaning, such as by applying (pressurized and/or over heated) steam. This is found to reduce the cleaning cycle significantly as well. In addition hygienic conditions are improved, resulting in less infections.

In a second aspect the present invention relates to a method for harvesting mushrooms, comprising i) providing an apparatus according to the invention, wherein the container comprises: a) a first layer, comprising substrate, such as compost, b) a second covering layer, preferably comprising pasteurized material, such as peat, ii) actively providing a gas, preferably air, to said first and/or second layer, iii) controlling a temperature of said first and/or second layer, iv) growing mushrooms, and v) harvesting mushrooms. It is noted that some of the steps may be performed in a different sequence, and/or at a later or earlier stage.

In a second aspect the present invention relates to a method for harvesting larvae. Larvae are typically grown and harvested in small boxes. Larvae, and especially fly larvae, are thus grown for protein rich feed, initially for farmed fish, chicken, and pets, but also further feed forms are en visaged. The larvae of the black soldier fly contain high values of protein and fat. The larvae are found easy to grow as for instance Brachycera species produce a large number of eggs (up to 1000 eggs) at a time. In addition the larvae may be grown on waste as a feed material. The waste is converted into natural compost by the larvae. Initial experiments show that from 9 tons of food waste about 2 tons of larvae and 3 tons of compost are obtainable. After production the larvae may be dehydrated and further processed into protein-based animal feed and fat.

Thereby the present invention provides a solution to one or more of the above mentioned problems.

Advantages of the present invention are detailed throughout the description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in a first aspect to an apparatus according to claim 1.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the direction b may be from -80 degrees to + 80 degrees with re spect to a direction perpendicular to the bottom, preferably -75 degrees to + 75 degrees.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus a sheet may be provided on the bottom of the container, and wherein the sheet comprises air releases 29.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the container may comprise rails 31, preferably hollow rails, wherein at least one duct preferably is at least one rail.

It is noted that two or more, or even all ducts and subsequent rails may be one and the same.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the bottom may comprise two parts 11 which are tilted, prefera bly tilted over an angle a, wherein 10°<a<30°, preferably wherein 15°<a<25°.

In an exemplary embodiment the present apparatus may comprise an aeration device 30 for providing an air flow.

In an exemplary embodiment the present apparatus may comprise 2-100 containers connected in series, preferably 3- 40 containers, more preferably 4-30 containers, such as 5-20 containers, e.g. 6-10 containers.

In an exemplary embodiment the present apparatus an inlet of a series of containers may be provided opposite of another series of containers, and an aeration device, such as a ventilator, may be provided in between the series of containers, i.e. in the middle. As such a better control of air flow is achieved.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus a shape of a the duct may be a geometrical prism, and may have a cross-section selected from triangular, rectangular, such as square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, multigonal, sections thereof, and in addition sections of thereof, such as sections of a circular and ellipsoidal prism with a cross-section with at least one straight side, and combinations thereof. For instance circle segments, e.g. half a circle may be used. Such section provide easy manu facturing and also easy loading of a sheet to be used typi cally comprising a first and second layer.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the one or more releases may be selected from the group consist ing openings, membranes, ceramics, and combinations thereof, which releases are permeable to the gas, especially to oxy gen, and carbon dioxide.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the one or more releases may be substantially distributed evenly in a longitudinal direction of the duct, and/or wherein the one or more releases may be substantially distributed evenly in a radial direction of the duct.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus 1-25 releases may be present per meter duct, preferably 2-20 per meter duct, more preferably 3-10, such as 5-8 per meter duct, and/or wherein 1-10 releases may be present per radial segment 27, such as 2-5.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the one or more air releases may have a cross section of 0.1 mm - 10 mm, preferably from 0.3 mm - 5 mm, such as from 1 mm - 3 mm.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus one or more openings may have a cross section of 0.1 mm - 10 mm, preferably from 0.3 mm - 5 mm, such as from 1 mm - 3 mm.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the one or more membranes may have a pore diameter suit-able for gas penetration, such as from 0.1 nm - 5000 nm, preferably from 1 nm - 500 nm, more preferably 10- 100 nm.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus duct may be formed of a material selected from a polymer, such as PVC , PE, and PP, a membrane, metal, such as stainless steel, and aluminum, and ceramics. An advantage of these materials, and especially aluminum, is that dead steaming can be per formed much quicker, such as 2-3 times quicker.

In an exemplary embodiment the present apparatus may comprise at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a controller, a C0₂ sensor, a flow sensor, and a hu midity sensor. Therewith appropriate control of these vari ous parameters may be established. For instance the tempera ture may be controlled within 0.2 °C, whereas it could still fluctuate within a few (1-3) degrees, a CO2 pressure can be controlled within 5% relative, a relative humidity to 80-90% ±1%, and a flow to +10-15% over a length of a (combined) duct. It is noted that typically a temperature of air pro vided would increase from an inlet to an outlet, even with a few degrees. Such is found not be much of an issue as the pressure is found to provide extra air flow at an outlet side .

In an exemplary embodiment the present apparatus may comprise at least one support 50, at least one support re ceiving element for stacking the apparatus, connected to the inlet an air connector 60 adapted for guiding air to a higher/lower apparatus, connected to the outlet an air connector 60 adapted for guiding air to a higher/lower appa ratus .

In an exemplary embodiment of the present apparatus the sheet may comprise a substantially water tight material, such as a polymer, a natural or artificial rubber, and a supporting gauze, such as a chicken wire, the gauze prefera bly having openings with an area of 1-16 cm², more prefera bly 2-10 cm², such as 4-6 cm², wherein the gauze preferably is located underneath the sheet.

In an exemplary embodiment the present apparatus may comprise an intermodal container, a controller, and optionally a substrate layer and a covering layer. In the container a fully loaded apparatus may be provided, ready to be shipped to another location. At the other location mushroom growth can start immediately, at a relatively small scale. Any type of mushroom may be provided. The container is in a plug and play modus, i.e. ready to use. The present invention may make use of an intermodal container. An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box. They are typically used to store and move materials and products in a containerized intermodal freight transport system. "Intermodal" indicates that the container can be moved from one mode of transport to another (from ship, to truck, etc.) without unloading and reloading the contents of the container. Lengths of contain ers, which each have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark, vary from 2.438 to 17.069 m and heights from 2.438 m to 2.896 m. It is noted that for air freight alternative definitions may be used.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method one or more of temperature, oxygen pressure, carbon dioxide supply, relative humidity of first and/or second layer, start of mushroom growth, end of mushroom growth, use of energy, growth of mushrooms, and moment of harvesting may be con trolled .

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method gas may be provided at a pressure of 10-500 kPa, preferably 50-300 kPa, such as 100-200 kPa.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method a tem perature may be controlled within ± 3°C, preferably within ± 1°C. Therewith exhaust of humidity is also prevented.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method an ar ray of coupled apparatuses may be formed, wherein the array comprises 1-50 apparatuses in first horizontal series, 1-10 apparatuses in vertical series, and 1-50 apparatuses in sec ond horizontal series.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method growth may be started during 3-5 days at a first location, thereafter the apparatus may be shipped to a second location, and thereafter 1-3 crops are harvested at the second location.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method the first layer may be kept at a lower temperature than the sec ond layer, preferably 0.1-3 °C lower, more preferably 0.2-2 °C lower, such as 0.5-1 °C lower.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method the mushrooms are selected from the group comprising Agaricus species, such as Agaricus Bisporus , Agaricus brasiiliensis , Agaricus subrufescens, Agaricus Blazei (Murill) , Agaricus bi- torquis, Pleurotus species, such as Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleu- rotus sapidus, Pleurotus citrinoplieatus, crimini mushroom, portobello mushroom, Lentinula edodes, Grifola frondosa , Agro- cybe aegerita , Cantharellus cibarius , Hericium erinaceum, and enokl (flammulina velutipes) .

In an exemplary embodiment of the present method larvae are selected from suborder Brachycera, preferably from the family of Strationmyidae , more preferably from the subfamily of Hermetiinae, such as genus Hermetia, such as H.illucens. These larvae may be fed on waste streams, such as organic waste streams. Conditions for growth are typically from 20-30 °C, such as 22-25 °C, a relative humidity (RH) of 60-80%, such as 65-72%. With the present apparatus a huge area can be pro vided with feed, similar to providing substrate for mushroom growth. When larvae are harvested again a similar procedure can be used and the containers can be emptied easily. Scale tests show already good results for a few apparatuses in par allel, comprising 10 containers in series, and 3-4 stacks per apparatus. An advantages is that the containers can be placed much closer (less height in between) to one and another, and therefore an apparatus can easily comprise 20 containers above one and another. The present apparatus provides a direct cli mate control, in one space, which can be adapted per row, per story {level part), and per apparatus. Such is beneficial as typically a first apparatus may be filled with larvae, whereas a second apparatus close by the first apparatus can be emptied substantially at the same time; such may even be the case for individual stories of an apparatus.

The invention is further detailed by the accompanying figures and examples, which are exemplary and explanatory of nature and are not limiting the scope of the invention. To the person skilled in the art it may be clear that many var iants, being obvious or not, may be conceivable falling within the scope of protection, defined by the present claims .

FIGURES

Figure 1-5, 6a-b, 1-la, 8-8a and 9-10a-h show details of the present apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the figures

100 apparatus for harvesting mushrooms 10 container

11 bottom of container

12 walls of container

20 duct

21 duct wall

22 duct air releases

23 duct inlet

24 duct outlet

27 radial segment

28 sheet

29 sheet air releases

30 aeration device

31 container rails

50 container support

60 air connector

a bottom tilt angle

b air flow direction

In figure 1 a schematic apparatus for growth of mushrooms is shown. A container 10 for comprising compost and peat is shown, having walls 12 and bottom 11. One large duct 20 is shown, which may also be formed by rails 31(e.g. as shown in figure 3) . The duct has an inlet 23 and an outlet 24. A pump provides air (flow). The duct is provided with many duct air releases 22. The duct typically has a wall 21. Further sup ports 50 are shown. The supports 50 may be placed on a con tainer below the container shown, or on the floor.

Figure 2 shows schematics of air flow. From duct air re leases 22 air flows in various directions in a direction b, wherein b is taken relative to an angle between a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the container 11, Typically the air flow is directed sideways, i.e. away from the duct, but it may also be directed towards a front or back side of the con tainer. A radial segment 27 is shown, having in the example 3 air releases. Also an air connector 60 is shown.

In figure 3 present container is shown, with four rails 31, a sheet 28 for receiving compost and peat, and wherein sheet 28 comprises air releases. Typically the sheet is permeable to air or gas, and not or slightly permeable to water. As such air may pass from ducts 22 or rails 31 through sheet 28 to the compost and peat.

In figure 4 a container with two tilted parts 11 is shown, which are under an angle a with respect to a horizontal plane. Rails 31 are incorporated in the bottom of the container. A sheet 29 is provided on the bottom of the container. Further compost, peat and mushrooms are schematically shown.

If fig. 5 a frame for a stack of containers is shown, wherein ducts and rails are one and the same, providing sup port and air. A few air releases 22 are indicated.

In fig 6b a stack of 6 containers with 4 containers in se ries is shown, having tilted parts. Fig. 6a shows a top view.

In figure 7 a side view shows 6 stacked containers. In fig. 7a an enlarged section is shown, wherein rails 31 are on top of the bottom of the container.

In figure 8 a side view shows 6 stacked containers. In ad dition the containers have two parts 11 which are tilted with respect to a horizontal plane. In fig. 8a an enlarged section is shown, wherein rails 31 are integrated or incorporated in the bottom of the container.

In figure 9 a typical layout for growth of mushrooms is shown, having 4 containers in series. In combination with e.g. figs. 7 or 8 a stack of 2-10 by 3-7 containers may be formed.

In figure lOa-h examples of duct cross-sections are shown.

The figures are further detailed in the description and examples below.

EXAMPLES/EXPERIMENTS

Method of growing

In a method of growing mushrooms the present apparatus is used. An air pressure of 300 kPa is used. It has been found that energy consumption is reduced by 75% relative to a simi lar apparatus, especially as the environment requires much less cooling or maintenance of a temperature. In addition the yield of the mushrooms was similar or slightly (5-10%) better.

The invention although described in detailed explanatory context may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying examples and figures.

Claims

1. Apparatus (100) for harvesting mushrooms, consisting of

a container (10), which container comprises

a bottom (11), and

walls { 12 ) ,

characterized in that

the container comprises at least one duct (20) with at least one duct wall (21) , adapted to be in fluid connection with an aeration device, the duct having an inlet (23) and an optional outlet (24), wherein the duct is located in contact to the bottom,

wherein the duct comprises openings in at least one duct wall functioning as air releases (22) in the at least one duct wall, wherein the air releases are arranged to direct air flow in a direction b which direction is from substantially parallel to the bottom to perpendicular to the bottom, and wherein said air releases are arranged to evenly distribute the air flow over a space of the container.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direction b is from -80 degrees to + 80 degrees with respect to a direction perpendicular to the bottom.

3. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-2, wherein a sheet (28) is provided on the bottom of the container, and wherein the sheet comprises air releases (29) .

4. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-3, wherein the container comprises rails (31) , preferably hollow rails, wherein at least one duct preferably is at least one rail .

5. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-4, wherein the bottom comprises two parts (11) which are tilted, preferably tilted over an angle a, wherein 10°<a<30°, preferably wherein 15°<a<25°.

6. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-5, comprising an aeration device (30) for providing an air flow.

7. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-6, com prising 2-100 containers connected in series, preferably 3-40 containers .

8. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-7, wherein a shape of a the duct is a geometrical prism, and has a cross-section selected from triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, multigonal, sec tions thereof, and in addition sections thereof, and combina tions thereof.

9. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-8, wherein the one or more releases are selected from the group consisting openings, membranes, ceramics, and combinations thereof, which releases are permeable to the gas, especially to oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

10. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-9, wherein the one or more releases are substantially distributed evenly in a longitudinal direction of the duct, and/or wherein the one or more releases are substantially distributed evenly in a radial direction of the duct.

11. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-10, wherein 1-25 releases is/are present per meter duct, preferably 2-20 per meter duct, such as 10 per meter duct, and/or wherein 1-10 releases is/are present per radial segment (27) .

12. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-11, wherein the one or more air releases have a cross section of 0.1 mm - 10 mm, preferably from 0.3 mm - 5 m , such as from 1 mm - 3 mm.

13. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 9-12, wherein one or more openings have a cross section of 0.1 mm - 10 mm, preferably from 0.3 mm - 5 mm, such as from 1 mm - 3 mm.

14. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 9-13, wherein the one or more membranes have a pore diameter suitable for gas penetration, such as from 0.1 nm - 5000 nm, pref erably from 1 nm - 20 nm.

15. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-14, wherein duct is formed of a material selected from a polymer, a membrane, metal, and aluminum, and ceramics.

16. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-15, comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a controller, a C0₂ sensor, a flow sensor, and a humid^¬ ity sensor.

17. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-16, further comprising at least one support (50), at least one support receiving element for stacking the apparatus, con nected to the inlet an air connector (60) adapted for guiding air to a higher/lower apparatus, connected to the outlet an air connector (60) adapted for guiding air to a higher/lower apparatus .

18. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-17, wherein the sheet comprises a substantially water tight mate rial, a natural or artificial rubber, and a supporting gauze, the gauze preferably having openings with an area of 1-16 cm², more preferably 2-10 cm², wherein the gauze preferably is lo cated underneath the sheet.

19. Apparatus according to any or more of claims 1-18, further comprising an intermodal container, a controller, and optionally a substrate layer and a covering layer.

20. Method for harvesting mushrooms or larvae, comprising i) providing an apparatus according to any of claims 1-19, wherein the container comprises:

a) a first layer, comprising substrate,

b) optionally a second covering layer, ii) actively providing a gas, to said first and/or second layer;

iii) controlling a temperature of said first and/or second layer,

iv) growing mushrooms or larvae, and

v) harvesting mushrooms or larvae.

21. Method for harvesting according to claim 20, wherein one or more of temperature, oxygen pressure, carbon dioxide supply, relative humidity of first and/or second layer, start of mushroom growth, end of mushroom growth, use of energy, growth of mushrooms, and moment of harvesting is controlled.

22. Method for harvesting according to claim 20 or 21, wherein gas is provided at a pressure of 10-500 kPa, such as 50-300 kPa .

23. Method according to any of claims 20-22, wherein a temperature is controlled within ± 3°C, preferably within ±

1°C.

24. Method according to any of claims 20-23, wherein an array of coupled apparatuses is formed, wherein the array com prises 1-50 apparatuses in first horizontal series, 1-10 apparatuses in vertical series, and 1-50 apparatuses in second horizontal series.

25. Method according to any of claims 20-24, wherein growth is started during 3-5 days at a first location, thereafter the apparatus is shipped to a second location, and thereafter 1-3 crops are harvested at the second location.

26. Method according to any of claims 20-25, wherein the first layer is kept at a lower temperature than the second layer, preferably 0.1-3 °C lower, more preferably 0.2-2 °C lower .

27. Method according to any of claims 20-26, wherein the mushrooms are selected from the group comprising Agaricus spe cies, such as Agaricus Bisporus, Agaricus brasiiliensis,

Agaricus subrufescens, Agaricus Blazei (Murill) , Agaricus bi- torquis, Pleurotus species, such as Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleu- rotus sapidus, Pleurotus citrinoplieatus, crimini mushroom, portobello mushroo , Lentinula edodes, Grifola frondosa , Agro- cybe aegerita , Cantharellus cibarius, Hericium erinaceum, and enoki (flammulina velutipes) .

28. Method according to any of claims 20-24, wherein larvae are selected from suborder Brachycera, preferably from the family of Strationmyidae, more preferably from the subfamily of Hermetiinae, such as genus Hermetia, such as H. illucens .