Nature Mushrooms

Direct 

• Productivity improvement: the purchase of the three refrigerators will allow NR Nature to have better control over their production process and reduce raw materials costs. The promoter will be able to perform the incubation of the substrate, instead of purchasing it from suppliers, which grants them the possibility to use the substrate in its freshest state. These improvements will allow NR Nature to increase its profits and become more competitive. 
• Promotion of a sustainable and organic food production system: NR Nature implements resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and maintain ecosystems, strengthening the capacity to adapt to climate change. The products are organic and certified with label PT-BIO-10. The production is highly efficient and is made from forest waste, so that 30% to 40% of the substrate's weight results in mushrooms. 

Indirect 

• Efficient waste management: after use, the substrate is dried and used to heat the greenhouses in winter, resulting in a low volume of waste from this production. 
• Efficient management of natural resources: the greenhouse production reduces water consumption, and the aim is to use the water from the greenhouse gutters for further use. The wood used in the production is used in the first phase to produce mushrooms on logs, in the second phase to produce mushrooms on a substrate made from wood, and in the third phase the substrate used is used to heat the greenhouses. In the end, the ashes from its combustion are integrated back into the forest as a natural fertilizer. 

NR NATURE (NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, LDA) is a Portuguese company, located in Vila do Conde, specializing in the production of Shiitake mushrooms on wooden logs, active since 2011.

The promoter decided to dedicate itself to mushroom production for the following reasons:

• Healthy food with high nutritional value
• Margin for growth, with a market where demand exceeds supply
• Efficient production in terms of resource consumption and production capacity
• Continuous production, without seasonal variability
• Low carbon footprint
• Low water requirements
• Suitable soil and climate conditions

After several tests, at the end of 2021, the promoter innovated his production method by switching to wood substrate, which proved to have several advantages over traditional production on wooden logs, without compromising the quality of the end product: reduced waiting time from purchase to production; less labor required; increased production capacity of the facilities (ten times higher). 

The consumption of shiitake has been growing in Europe and Portugal, due to its properties and in line with a general increase in mushroom consumption.

Over the last few years, the developer has been adapting to market demand. At the moment, NR Nature is working with producing partners to whom they offer training, technical support, and access to their substrate, in order to increase production while maintaining centralized marketing. NR NATURE's aim is, on the one hand, to support producing partners to guarantee high-quality mushrooms in competitive quantity and conditions and, on the other, to enable growers to achieve a stable business in the medium term.  

With this model, NR NATURE has increased its capacity to compete in larger markets, and the company is now exporting to several European countries.