Finding peat alternatives for agriculture in Swedens most abundant industrial waste streams

This multidisciplinary project tackles two key environmental challenges in Sweden and the EU: reducing peat extraction and managing sludge waste from pulp and paper mills. By repurposing abundant mill sludge as a sustainable alternative to peat, the project aims to advance peat-free mushroom cultivation—particularly for peat-dependent species such as the common button mushroom. The research focuses on developing sludge-based substrates that replicate peat’s properties, studying microbial interactions within these materials, and evaluating their impact on mushroom growth, safety, and quality, thereby supporting Sweden’s transition toward a circular bioeconomy.