<![CDATA[Pressat Main Newswire]]> https://pressat.co.uk/rss/ <![CDATA[Pressat Main Newswire]]> https://pressat.co.uk/media/site/logo.png https://pressat.co.uk/rss/ en-gb Copyright: (C) Pressat Pressat <![CDATA[ Hotel Chain Sets Up Mini Mushroom Farms ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/hotel-chain-sets-up-mini-mushroom-farms-a1471224a187c955aa542312f0f24120/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/hotel-chain-sets-up-mini-mushroom-farms-a1471224a187c955aa542312f0f24120/ Thursday 11 May, 2017

The three walled kitchen gardens at the Pig at Combe have been made even more productive and unique with the addition of a mini mushroom farm; bringing hyper-local gourmet mushrooms to the table.

When The Pig, a boutique hotel chain with kitchen gardens at the heart of their menus, opened its latest hotel, their kitchen garden team wondered how they could add something new to the food they sent to the kitchen. They approached GroCycle, a social enterprise who run the UK's first Urban Mushroom Farm, to see if mushrooms could be cultivated in their signature Kitchen Gardens.

The Pig at Combe, a honey-coloured Elizabethan gem, is nestled in the Otter Valley near Honiton and has a strong focus on fresh produce grown in its gardens or sourced from within a 25 mile radius. Instead of simply buying GroCycle’s mushrooms, Ollie Hutson, Senior Kitchen Gardener, was keen to push the boundaries of a traditional kitchen garden and produce mushrooms too.

“On learning more about the strong ethos at The Pig we wanted to be part of their unique approach”, said GroCycle Director Adam Sayner. “Most mushrooms bought in by restaurants are likely to have come from the Netherlands or Poland where they’re grown with a lot of machinery and intensive heating of bulk substrate. We specialise in low-tech methods which are much more sustainable, like our Oyster mushrooms which are grown on recycled coffee grounds. “

Ollie is really happy to be able to offer fresh Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms to his chefs inside The Pig Restaurant. “GroCycle have provided training for us and helped us with the set-up of our grow rooms. We started out as complete novices and with good support along the way we are learning how to produce a good crop of mushrooms and keep the chefs happy!” said Ollie.

A second mini mushroom farm has now also been built at one of the Pig's other hotels in Brockenhurst, and the plan is to roll out extra grow rooms at each of the other Pig Hotels in the near future.

“We’ve always had a strong emphasis on inspiring and teaching others to grow mushrooms in a low-tech way. That’s why we leaped at the chance to make this happen at the Pig Hotels- this puts another string to the Pig’s already impressive bow of hyper local food production” says Eric Jong, GroCycle Director. “It also shows you can set up growing mushrooms pretty much anywhere. It will no doubt make more people aware of the potential of growing mushrooms.”

The chefs are impressed too. James Golding, the chain’s Chef Director, talking about what it means to have a mini farm on site said: "for me a mushroom that is grown and picked straight away has a completely different texture and consistency than anything we can have delivered to the hotel.”

Through running its Urban Mushroom Farm and helping set up projects like this one, GroCycle have developed a great method and are keen to help others grow mushrooms too. A brand new online course is currently in production and due to be launched in July 2017.

The course will show how to set-up your own mini mushroom farm and make it into a part-time business or as an addition to any existing food growing operation like a kitchen garden, community or Permaculture project.




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https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

]]>
http://www.grocycle.com 11 May 2017 09:49:51 GMT Charities & non-profits Environment & Nature Farming & Animals Food & Drink Home & Garden Leisure & Hobbies
<![CDATA[ Award-winning urban mushroom farm, which grows mushrooms on coffee grounds, featuring on BBC 1 and Radio 4 this week. ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/award-winning-urban-mushroom-farm-which-grows-mushrooms-on-coffee-grounds-featuring-on-bbc-1-and-radio-4-this-week-46818da15da5cdad89a40394d77d6e59/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/award-winning-urban-mushroom-farm-which-grows-mushrooms-on-coffee-grounds-featuring-on-bbc-1-and-radio-4-this-week-46818da15da5cdad89a40394d77d6e59/ Wednesday 10 June, 2015

GroCycle's urban mushroom farm has been hailed as a model solution for providing fresh food in cities and will tonight (24th June) feature on BBC 1's The One Show.

By growing mushrooms on coffee grounds from cafes in Exeter, the GroCycle team turn a waste product into healthy, fresh, protein-rich Oyster mushrooms which are then sold in the local area.

"Traditional mushroom cultivation requires energy-intensive processes to sterilise the growing material. Coffee grounds are already sterilised when the coffee is brewed. That is what makes this way of growing mushrooms so sustainable" said Adam Sayner, company director.

The award-winning certified social enterprise has turned unused office space in Princesshay, right the heart of Exeter city centre into a productive space, where an otherwise wasted resource is then turned into food for the local population. Coffee waste is a huge problem; 80,000,000 cups of coffee are drunk each day in the UK, yet most of the waste coffee grounds are currently just being sent to landfill.

The project also provides testing and training opportunities. Through the company's courses over 350 people have been trained and course members from over 15 countries around the world including Columbia, Australia and Iceland are learning how to grow mushrooms on used coffee grounds.

"We have built what we think is the most advanced urban mushroom farm on the planet!," says Eric Jong, company director " And like so many people we speak to, The One Show's team was very intrigued and wanted to know more about how you can grow mushrooms using waste coffee grounds."

With the UN predicting that 70% of the world's population will live in cities by 2050, a more sustainable approach to urban waste and food production will be required.

"We picture a world where in just 5 years from now, there'll be lots of cities around the word with an Urban Mushroom Farm," adds Adam Sayner "It just makes so much sense to turn this waste into healthy food and add to a city's food supply."

Adam and Eric will appear on BBC1's 'The One Show' (Wednesday June 24th , 7pm)

For more information email hello@grocycle.com or visit www.grocycle.com

Additional information.

5 reasons GroCycle is the future of sustainable protein and food in cities.

1. Re-using Waste.

80 million cups of coffee are drunk in the UK each day, 1.6 billion worldwide. Less than 1% of the coffee plant is used in this process - the rest usually ends up in landfill. GroCycle diverts tonnes from landfill, where it would otherwise decompose, releasing the greenhouse gas Methane into the atmosphere.

2. Providing Sustainable Protein.

Meat is the world's main source of protein, however it's production requires huge amounts of scarce resources such as land, energy and water. Oyster mushrooms are high in protein and require little of these resources providing a low-impact protein solution.

3. Boosting Urban Agriculture.

Although most of the UK's food is consumed in cities, virtually none is grown there. Mushrooms are a crop ideally suited to urban agriculture where both waste and demand are highest, and unused space can be utilised.

4. Providing Local Food.

Much food in the UK travels hundreds of miles before it is consumed. Mushrooms grown in cities are consumed within a few miles of where they are grown.

5. Re-Using Energy

Traditional mushroom cultivation requires energy intensive processes to sterilise the growing material. Coffee grounds are already sterilised when the coffee is brewed.




Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ ]]>
https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

]]>
http://www.grocycle.com 10 Jun 2015 03:28:39 GMT Charities & non-profits Environment & Nature Farming & Animals Food & Drink
<![CDATA[ Urban Mushroom Farm Succesfully Crowdfunds And Spreads The Love With Coffee Waste ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/urban-mushroom-farm-succesfully-crowdfunds-and-spreads-the-love-with-coffee-waste-2b0239dc24daa8080c135bbd4e5a85b9/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/urban-mushroom-farm-succesfully-crowdfunds-and-spreads-the-love-with-coffee-waste-2b0239dc24daa8080c135bbd4e5a85b9/ Tuesday 31 March, 2015

Just about anyone drinks a few cups of coffee each day, but not many people know that you don't need to throw the grounds away afterwards.

Believe it or not, used coffee grounds are an ideal way to cultivate mushrooms. Unlike traditional mushroom farming, it's a low-tech solution as there's no need for expensive equipment and the brewing process renders the grounds pasteurised - important when growing mushrooms. There is almost no impact to the environment and the idea could spur a whole new generation of Urban Agriculture projects around the world.

GroCycle, a company pioneering this idea in the UK, has just completed a successful KickStarter campaign, raising £16,000 in just 21 days from more than 250 backers around the world.

The company is an award-winning social enterprise and has been growing mushrooms on coffee since 2011, with the vision of spreading the idea to other cities all over the world.

"It's crazy that most large cafes are throwing their coffee waste away," said Adam Sayner, company director. "It is still packed full of nutrients which can be turned into delicious Oyster mushrooms."

It's not just GroCycle that thinks this is a great idea...the founder of the global Transition Towns movement, Rob Hopkins, who officially opened GroCycle Urban Mushroom Farm in Exeter last year, had this to say about it:

"I felt I had a taste not just of one of the world's most delicious fungi, but also a taste of what rethinking waste management, urban job creation and food production could look like. It was a tasty vision indeed."

A crucial part of making the vision a reality is running the UK's first Urban Mushroom Farm. It is the testing ground for the whole idea.

The recent KickStarter Campaign was started when GroCycle was given short notice that they had to move out of their existing building due a redevelopment of Exeter city centre. The team were offered a new premises by an understanding landlord and quickly launched the crowdfunding campaign to help raise the funds needed to re-build the farm.

"It's been a roller-coaster journey and it feels amazing to get so much support from people all over the world" said Adam Sayner, company director.

The campaign has had support from 250 people from all over the world who have collectively pledged more than £16,000, in return for a range of rewards including grow-at-home mushroom kits, tours of the new farm and access to the GroCycle Online Course Membership.

" Mushrooms grown on coffee in every city in the world is a new model of urban agriculture and we are working hard to make this a reality." said Eric Jong, company director. "I am confident that this will spread to many other cities soon"

End of Release

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Note to editors:

- Images, interviews or further information can be obtained by contacting Eric Jong or Adam Sayner at hello@grocycle.com




Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ ]]>
https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

]]>
http://www.grocycle.com 31 Mar 2015 15:54:17 GMT Environment & Nature Farming & Animals Food & Drink
<![CDATA[ GroCycle crowdfunds to keep its Urban Mushroom Farm ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/grocycle-crowdfunds-to-keep-its-urban-mushroom-farm-26a79cc0a19acd3dc184d42d9c2a4aa8/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/grocycle-crowdfunds-to-keep-its-urban-mushroom-farm-26a79cc0a19acd3dc184d42d9c2a4aa8/ Wednesday 11 March, 2015

GroCycle is a social enterprise that pioneers the growing of mushrooms on a huge waste stream- coffee ground. The team has been growing mushrooms on coffee for years now and are very keen to get other people involved. Only 1% of the biomass used for a cup of coffee is actually extracted with the rest deemed waste. GroCycle looks to make more use of all the energy invested in this process.

The company has set up GroCycle Urban Mushroom Farm in Exeter. The project is a showcase for how food can be grown sustainably. The two company directors Adam Sayner and Eric Jong have always been inspired by the idea of spreading this concept far and wide. It recently launched an online course to spread this technique. The recent launch in Feb 2015 saw people from 15 countries joining the platform (www.growmushroomsoncoffee.com).

Company director Adam Sayner said: "We want to get others involved by running an online course and community that can be accessed all over the world".

Unfortunately on very short notice the company has been told it needs to move out of its current premises.

"Right at the time that we're getting to the point where our inspiration is turning into reality we've been told we need to move" said Eric Jong, company director. "With this crowdfunding campaign we want to turn bad news into a new opportunity".

GroCycle has already secured different premises but needs support to invest in a new, better growing set-up. The crowdfund campaign aim to raise £16,000 in return for great rewards.

"Picture a world where every city in the world will have people turning this massive waste stream into delicious food and jobs." said Adam Sayner, company director. "We can help kickstart this but need people's support".

The crowdfund campaign is on Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1514164848/grocycle-help-secure-our-urban-mushroom-farm

GroCycle is part of the growing movement of Social Enterprise. The focus is on business as a positive force for social and environmental good, rather than simply for profit.

End of Release

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Notes for Editors:

-Graphics and interviews are available on request. Please email hello@grocycle.com or call 01803 411690

-Oyster mushrooms are 15-25% protein (by dry weight).

-Oyster mushrooms contain ergothioneine, a unique antioxidant exclusively produced by fungi, according to a 2010 study led by Penn State food scientist Joy Dubost. The study found that oyster mushrooms have significant antioxidant properties that protect cells in the body (www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/29988.php).

-Oyster mushrooms are high in nutrients. According to a study published in "Food Chemistry," oyster mushrooms contain significant levels of zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B-1 and B-2.

-Oyster mushrooms have significant antibacterial activity, according to a 1997 study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry." The study found that the active compound benzaldehyde reduces bacterial levels. (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf960876i)

Source: http://www.pressat.co.uk/releases/the-uks-first-urban-mushroom-farm-launches-this-week-recycling-coffee-grounds-into-edible-mushrooms-90ca180fd01e2fda818cc83a6ca70e68/#ixzz3Tu2qVojz




Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ ]]>
https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

]]>
http://www.grocycle.com 11 Mar 2015 12:43:11 GMT Charities & non-profits Environment & Nature Farming & Animals Food & Drink
<![CDATA[ GroCycle wins Growth Award from Santander to launch online Mushrooms On Coffee Course ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/grocycle-wins-growth-award-from-santander-to-launch-online-mushrooms-on-coffee-course-d8bcf5387fbe6e2c5db083e871a85e7e/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/grocycle-wins-growth-award-from-santander-to-launch-online-mushrooms-on-coffee-course-d8bcf5387fbe6e2c5db083e871a85e7e/ Friday 21 November, 2014

GroCycle wins Growth Award from Santander to launch online Mushrooms On Coffee course

Santander has announced this week that GroCycle won one of the bank's Social Enterprise Development Awards (SEDA). The awards are given to social enterprises and trading charities looking to grow their business and improve their local community. GroCycle pioneers the growing of mushrooms on coffee waste.

"This is amazing news! The award is recognition that what we do is important and deserves to be spread far and wide. It is also a great motivator for the team" Said Adam Sayner, GroCycle director. "Growing mushrooms on coffee waste makes a lot of sense in the current global climate."

Overall 146 social enterprises from across the UK were given SEDA awards this year amounting to £1.2million in prize money.

Alongside the prize money, the winning social enterprises receive a business support package from Santander which includes business webinars, full funded internships, consultancy days and the opportunity to network with other social entrepreneurs and small business owners. Robin Foale, MD, Santander Business Banking said: "Congratulations to this year's SEDA winners from the South West. There are some truly outstanding enterprises and charities in the awards this year. We hope that the money and support programme will help them reach their potential and increase their social impact in their local communities."

"We will put this money to good use by using it to further develop our aim of spreading this amazing concept" said Eric Jong, GroCycle director. "There's real interest out there for growing mushrooms the way we do. We want to allow people to start their projects by offering an online course, www.growmushroomsoncoffee.com".

GroCycle already have a solid track record in training people to successfully grow mushrooms in this unique way. Hundreds of people took their course at their Dartington base. Some of the alumni have set up small projects across the UK & Norway.

"We've developed a lot of expertise and want to put this to good use in an effective way and feel that the online course format will do that" said Adam Sayner. "We'll also capitalise on our recent experience setting up a mushroom growing project in HMP Dartmoor"

"For us it makes perfect sense to spread the technique like this' said Eric Jong, " we aim to get people growing mushrooms everywhere, not just in prisons, it's why we originally developed the UK's first Grow Your Own Kit- using coffee of course!"

End of Release

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Notes for Editors:

About GroCycle

GroCycle is an award winning social enterprise based in Devon UK. The company pioneers the growing of mushrooms on coffee waste. It launched the UK's first GYO Kit, the first Urban Mushroom Farm and has spreading this technique as one of its social aims.

About Santander

Santander is a leading financial services provider in the UK and offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. Santander serves more than 14 million active customers and has c. 24,000 employees, c. 1,000 branches and 50 regional Corporate Business Centres.

-Graphics and interviews are available on request. Please email hello@grocycle.com or call 01803 411690

-Oyster mushrooms are 15-25% protein (by dry weight).

-Oyster mushrooms contain ergothioneine, a unique antioxidant exclusively produced by fungi, according to a 2010 study led by Penn State food scientist Joy Dubost. The study found that oyster mushrooms have significant antioxidant properties that protect cells in the body (www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/29988.php).

-Oyster mushrooms are high in nutrients. According to a study published in "Food Chemistry," oyster mushrooms contain significant levels of zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B-1 and B-2.

-Oyster mushrooms have significant antibacterial activity, according to a 1997 study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry." The study found that the active compound benzaldehyde reduces bacterial levels. (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf960876i)




Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ ]]>
https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

]]>
http://www.grocycle.com 21 Nov 2014 14:28:07 GMT Charities & non-profits Food & Drink
<![CDATA[ UK’s First Urban Mushroom Farm recognised for Innovation ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/uks-first-urban-mushroom-farm-recognised-for-innovation-764b2d6b7780feb55d9671e7f5cf7f55/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/uks-first-urban-mushroom-farm-recognised-for-innovation-764b2d6b7780feb55d9671e7f5cf7f55/ Tuesday 11 November, 2014

GroCycle has been given a prestigious award for Innovation by the UK's Chartered Institute for Waste Management (CIWM). Their GroCycle urban mushroom farm in Exeter pioneers the use of waste coffee grounds to grow gourmet mushrooms and is the first of its kind in the UK.

The team at GroCycle is thrilled to receive recognition from such a main industry award. "When we started pioneering this beautiful concept three years ago we would not have expected it to be picked up in the way that it has" said Adam Sayner, director at GroCycle. "It feels immensely satisfying to be presented with an award from the UK's main waste industry body"

CIWM is the professional body which represents over 7,000 waste professionals working in the sustainable resources and wastes management sector.

The CIWM award for innovation focuses on excellence in any aspect of innovation related to Waste Management or Resource Recovery. CIWM defines Innovation as the

"Creation of better or more effective processes, products, technologies or ideas that bring about a substantial positive change"

The award's judges were impressed by GroCycle's application and added " Even though this is a nationally small waste stream it shows that waste material can be used locally. The principle of using waste coffee grounds to grow mushrooms in the urban area is something that hopefully will be repeated in a number of other cities."

Approximately 80 million cups of coffee are drunk every day in the UK, yet less than 1 per cent of the bean actually ends up in the cup. The vast majority of the remaining grounds are buried using already scarce landfill capacity and decomposing to produce methane, which is some 25 times more harmful to the earth's atmosphere than CO2.

With mounting evidence of the environmental impact of meat production, the low impact method pioneered by GroCycle also contributes to new ways of producing protein-rich food more sustainably.

"We are really pleased as using coffee waste in this way makes so much sense. It should really be done in every city as there is so much coffee waste out there that can be turned into healthy sustainable food." Said Eric Jong, company director at GroCycle. "We obviously do this on a farm-sized scale but through our popular Grow Your Own Kits everyone can have fun growing mushrooms on waste coffee grounds at home. It's a very popular Christmas gift".

GroCycle is a certified Social Enterprise and proud to be part of the growing movement of Social Enterprise., trading for people and planet.

End of Release

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Notes for Editors:

-Graphics and interviews are available on request. Please email hello@grocycle.com or call 01803 411690

- Oyster mushrooms are 15-25% protein (by dry weight).

- Oyster mushrooms contain ergothioneine, a unique antioxidant exclusively produced by fungi, according to a 2010 study led by Penn State food scientist Joy Dubost. The study found that oyster mushrooms have significant antioxidant properties that protect cells in the body (www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/29988.php).

- Oyster mushrooms are high in nutrients. According to a study published in "Food Chemistry," oyster mushrooms contain significant levels of zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B-1 and B-2.

- Oyster mushrooms have significant antibacterial activity, according to a 1997 study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry." The study found that the active compound benzaldehyde reduces bacterial levels. (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf960876i)




Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ ]]>
https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

]]>
http://www.grocycle.com 11 Nov 2014 10:00:34 GMT Charities & non-profits Food & Drink
<![CDATA[ The UK’s first urban mushroom farm launched this week - recycling coffee grounds into edible mushrooms ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/the-uks-first-urban-mushroom-farm-launched-this-week-recycling-coffee-grounds-into-edible-mushrooms-9365bfaae207fae821fd2297f7eda366/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/the-uks-first-urban-mushroom-farm-launched-this-week-recycling-coffee-grounds-into-edible-mushrooms-9365bfaae207fae821fd2297f7eda366/ Wednesday 24 September, 2014

The UK’s first urban mushroom farm has officially launched this week growing gourmet mushrooms from recycled coffee grounds - showcasing a new model for the future of sustainable food grown in cities.

GroCycle Urban Mushroom Farm is based in a disused office building in Exeter city centre. The farm takes waste coffee grounds from local cafés and uses them as a growing medium to produce healthy and delicious Oyster mushrooms.

GroCycle, the team behind the idea, say the project is partly driven by the fact that coffee waste is such a huge environmental problem. Approximately 80 million cups of coffee are drunk every day in the UK, yet less than 1 per cent of the bean actually ends up in the cup. The vast majority of the remaining grounds are buried in landfill, decomposing to produce methane, which is 25 times more harmful to the earth’s atmosphere than CO2.

“It’s crazy that most large cafes are throwing their coffee waste away,” said Adam Sayner, company director. “It is still packed full of nutrients which can be turned into delicious Oyster mushrooms. We are making it possible to grow gourmet food from it instead!”

With interest in Urban Agriculture catching on in cities around the world, the farm is also a showcase for how food can be grown more sustainably. Oyster mushrooms are high in nutrients, and producing them in a city close to where they are consumed produces a much lower impact than importing mushrooms from Europe.

“Growing mushrooms in this way is absolutely ideal for Urban Agriculture,” said Eric Jong, company director. “It is where both the waste and demand for food are highest. We hope our farm will serve as a flagship model for more urban farms in the future.”

To spread the concept further, the company has also devised a popular and simple to use grow-at-home kit – bringing the process of growing mushrooms from coffee grounds into people’s homes all around the country. More than 10,000 of these kits have been sold the last 2 years.

The farm was officially opened on Tuesday 23rd September by Rob Hopkins, founder of the worldwide Transition Town movement, who said “this really is a fantastic project - growing food from waste in the middle of a city. What an inspirational idea, and one that’ll spread to other cities I’m sure!”

End of Release

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Notes for Editors:

-Graphics and interviews are available on request. Please email hello@grocycle.com or call 01803 411690

- Oyster mushrooms are high in protein, fibre and iron, and contain significant levels of zinc, potassium, selenium, calcium, phosphorus, folic acid, and vitamins B1, B3, B5 and B12, plus vitamin C and vitamin D

- GroCycle Urban Mushroom Farm has recycled over 15 tonnes of coffee grounds into 3.5 tonnes of mushrooms during the last year

- GroCycle is part of the growing movement of Social Enterprise. The focus is on business as a positive force for social and environmental good, rather than for profit




Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ ]]>
https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

]]>
http://www.grocycle.com 24 Sep 2014 16:11:02 GMT Environment & Nature Food & Drink
<![CDATA[ The UK’s first urban mushroom farm launches this week- recycling coffee grounds into edible mushrooms. ]]> https://pressat.co.uk/releases/the-uks-first-urban-mushroom-farm-launches-this-week-recycling-coffee-grounds-into-edible-mushrooms-90ca180fd01e2fda818cc83a6ca70e68/ https://pressat.co.uk/releases/the-uks-first-urban-mushroom-farm-launches-this-week-recycling-coffee-grounds-into-edible-mushrooms-90ca180fd01e2fda818cc83a6ca70e68/ Thursday 18 September, 2014

The UK’s first urban mushroom farm launches this week growing gourmet mushrooms from recycled coffee grounds - showcasing a new model for the future of sustainable food grown in cities.

The team at GroCycle is proud to announce the official opening of the UK’s first Urban Mushroom Farm, where a huge waste stream, coffee grounds, are used to grow protein-rich Oyster mushrooms.

GroCycle Urban Mushroom Farm in Exeter is a showcase for how food can be grown sustainably.

Based in disused office space, the farm takes coffee grounds from local cafés and uses them as a growing medium to produce healthy and delicious Oyster mushrooms.

Coffee waste is a huge problem in the UK. Approximately 80 million cups of coffee are drunk every day in the UK, yet less than 1 per cent of the bean actually ends up in the cup. The vast majority of the remaining grounds are buried using already scarce landfill capacity and decomposing to produce methane, which is some 25 times more harmful to the earth’s atmosphere than CO2.

“It’s crazy that most large cafes are throwing their coffee waste away,” said Adam Sayner, company director. “It is still packed full of nutrients which can be turned into delicious Oyster mushrooms. We are making it possible to grow gourmet food from it instead!”

With mounting evidence of the environmental impact of meat production, the low impact method devised by GroCycle may also present a solution to produce protein-rich food more sustainably.

“Growing mushrooms in this way is absolutely ideal for Urban Agriculture,” said Eric Jong, company director. “It is where both the waste and demand for food are highest. We hope our farm will serve as a flagship model for more urban farms in the future.”

The farm will be officially opened September 23rd by Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Town movement at 11:00 am.

GroCycle is part of the growing movement of Social Enterprise. The focus is on business as a positive force for social and environmental good, rather than simply for profit.

End of Release

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes for Editors:

-Graphics and interviews are available on request. Please email hello@grocycle.com or call 01803 411690

-Oyster mushrooms are 15-25% protein (by dry weight).

-Oyster mushrooms contain ergothioneine, a unique antioxidant exclusively produced by fungi, according to a 2010 study led by Penn State food scientist Joy Dubost. The study found that oyster mushrooms have significant antioxidant properties that protect cells in the body (www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/29988.php).

-Oyster mushrooms are high in nutrients. According to a study published in "Food Chemistry," oyster mushrooms contain significant levels of zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B-1 and B-2.

-Oyster mushrooms have significant antibacterial activity, according to a 1997 study published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry." The study found that the active compound benzaldehyde reduces bacterial levels. (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf960876i)




Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ ]]>
https://twitter.com/GroCycle Pressat hello@grocycle.com
http://www.grocycle.com

Additional Contact(s):
Adam Sayner (Director) adam@grocycle.com
Eric Jong (Director) eric@grocycle.com

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http://www.grocycle.com 18 Sep 2014 09:59:01 GMT Environment & Nature Farming & Animals