Developing local mushroom strains to improve smallholder outgrower livelihoods and defend against National Park encroachment

In collaboration with Kigali Farms, a private company dedicated to mushroom cultivation, Meise Botanic Garden, for the first time in Rwanda, inventoried edible mushroom populations of forest ecosystems to identify species a) suitable for export; and b) with potential for cultivation. Recent studies conducted by Meise Botanic Garden in neighbouring countries identified huge diversity and vast mycological potential. Mushrooms can be sustainably harvested and selected strains can be domesticated, helping local populations gain income from their natural ecosystems and raising awareness on the value of their biodiversity.