CHIAM aims to create a complex agrosystem, which will provide novel functional foods and use their by-products to feed animals and create energy in a biogas plant.
The efficiency of the primary production of African farms has to be improved. Additionally, it is urgent to emphasise the sustainability of farming systems. Showcasing good practices can help spreading the lacking knowledge and turn it into practice. Developing biomass-based farm operations in Africa can promote the sustainable utilisation of the available and new feedstock creating value for local society and protecting the environment with sustainable high-quality solutions.
Both chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) and Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) are considered as functional foods that provide health benefits. During the project, chia seeds production will be improved through breeding. The effectiveness and acceptability of the use of chia seeds and oyster mushrooms for fortification of local products will be examined. In order to create the circularity of farming, waste of chia production will be evaluated for utilisation as substrate for oyster mushroom production.
Spent mushroom substrate as animal feed will be examined, while the biogas production based on manure will be optimised.
*At the time of the proposal. Please consider this data as an accurate estimate; it may vary during the project’s lifespan.
Total costs include in kind contribution by grant holders and can therefore be higher than the total requested funding.