BUILDING A WESTERN COMMERCIAL MUSHROOM RESEARCH NETWORK (WMRN)

The proposed Western Commercial Mushroom Research Network (WMRN) will assist producers and industry groups in developing strategic research and extension plans, including goals, objectives, and priorities that promote the production and economic expansion of the commercial mushroom industry. In addition, the WMRN will assist communities in developing programs that educate and promote mushrooms as a part of healthy diet. Currently, there are few organizations in the western states that promote the mushroom industry or have resources to build a foundation for research and extension activities. The proposed WMRN will convene a regional symposium that initiates such collaboration for long-term sustained activity in research, outreach, and education in commercial mushroom production. The proposed symposium will bring together representatives from the western industry and from western research and Extension units, as well as national representatives, to coordinate activities supporting strategic planning activities across the region. The symposium will promote and demonstrate the benefits to be delivered from formal planning and coordination of activities on a regional basis. Moreover, the symposium will outline a strategic plan and create a team to develop and submit a full SCRI project proposal for the following year.