Over the past year, we've tested quite a few agri-crop waste/byproducts as substrates for growing mycelium-based materials.
Some performed surprisingly well in the lab, but that wasn't the end of the story.
A few aren't readily available in our region, so sourcing them would mean shipping them from elsewhere. Others need several pre-treatment steps before they're suitable to use, adding time and increasing the risk of contamination.
It reminded me that choosing a substrate isn't only about biological performance. Availability, logistics, and processing can matter just as much when you're thinking about scaling.
I'm curious how others balance performance with practicality when evaluating agricultural residues or waste streams.