Unlocking the Potential of Finnish Fungi

Finland’s forests hold untapped potential, not just in timber but in the valuable by-products left behind. In her dissertation, Marta Cortina-Escribano, 32, focuses in her dissertation on the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum, a specialty mushroom naturally found in Finnish forests, using wood industry side-streams—paving the way for new bioproducts and sustainable innovations.

What is the most significant finding of your dissertation?

The forestry sector in Finland produces a substantial volume of wood side-streams, many of which have yet to be fully utilized for high-value applications. The Finnish Bioeconomy Strategy supports the efficient use of biomass, aligning with the European Union’s push for a circular bio-based economy through sustainable bioproducts and innovation.

Fungi could play an increasing role in advancing Finland’s bioeconomy goals and developing new bioproducts by converting low- and medium-value lignocellulosic side-streams into higher-value materials.

Saprotrophic fungi, in particular, can break down forestry and agricultural side-streams to produce edible and specialty mushrooms, as well as fibers, polysaccharides, and bioactive compounds.

My dissertation is the first research done from Ganoderma lucidum strains from Finland.

My research showed that Ganoderma lucidum, a valuable mushroom naturally occurring in Finnish forests and known for its health benefits, can be successfully grown in Finland using wood industry side-streams.

This means that wood industry by-products can be repurposed into valuable resources. I also found that Finnish G. lucidum strains are very similar to each other genetically, even though they show some differences in growth and appearance.

These results open new possibilities for utilizing G. lucidum in Finland’s bioeconomy, offering an innovative way to valorize forestry side-streams into high-value fungal bioproduct.

Lue myös: Marta Cortina-​Escribano: Suomalaisia puutähteitä on mahdollista hyödyntää kestävässä sieniviljelyssä

How can your findings be applied?

The research highlights practical applications that support sustainability across multiple sectors. By utilizing locally available wood by-products as a growing medium for Ganoderma lucidum, it presents a resource-efficient approach to mushroom cultivation.

This could enable local production, reduce dependence on imported substrates, and promote circular economy principles in the forestry and agriculture sectors. Transforming by-products into valuable resources also creates new opportunities, particularly in rural areas with abundant forestry residues.

The successful cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum with high β-glucan levels could support the development of locally produced functional mushrooms for the supplement and functional food industries. Beyond food production, these findings contribute to advancements in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and regional economic growth.

The cultivation of specialty mushroom using forestry by-products could generate totally new value-chains based on Finnish side-streams and fungal strains.

What did completing your dissertation mean to you?

Completing my dissertation was a major achievement for me, both in my professional career and personal journey. I will always remember the excitement that I felt when I unpacked the box containing my printed thesis in Dissertation Forestales series book. I was very proud to hold in my hands the years of learning, experiences and hard work in the form of a book.

It has been a multidisciplinary learning experience. It is difficult to summarize the skills that I have learnt during the dissertation process, which include research planning, laboratory practices, data analysis and visualization, applying for funding, supervising students, scientific writing and communication, and managing projects. I participated also in the development of functional feeds, and I was part of several innovation disclosures during my doctoral studies.

Completing my dissertation has strengthened my passion for discovering innovative applications for forestry and agro-industrial side streams.