Mushroom stem preservative uses ag waste to prevent food waste

In Canada, a company extracting food preservatives from mushrooms has increased production to meet growing consumer demand for natural food additives. 

Chinova Bioworks has added a 20,000-square-foot Bioscience Manufacturing Incubator facility as well as 6,000 square feet to house R&D and administrative functions. The company’s Chiber product is extracted from the stems of white button mushrooms. 

The company was founded by Natasha Dhayagude, David Brown and Dr. Tanzina Huq four years ago. “Consumers are demanding transparency when it comes to the ingredients in their food and beverage products. They want natural, healthy, sustainable ingredients that have a purpose,” says Dhayagude, also CEO.  “Because of this increased awareness and scrutiny, ingredient producers and brands are under pressure to reformulate and keep up. Companies that we work with are very aware that they need a replacement for artificial ingredients to preserve product quality, freshness and shelf life.”