Mushroom cultivation was promoted as a livelihood and agribusiness opportunity through a two-day webinar series led by CLSU’s University Extension Center (UEC).

Reaching 3,000 participants it is the first Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited webinar on mushroom granting 4.00 CPD units to registered agriculturists who completed the training.

Led by UEC’s Continuing Education Division (CED) with Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CTMRD) the training equips agricultural professionals, farmers, and agripreneurs with science-based knowledge and practical skills in mushroom production, processing, and enterprise management. Titled “Spawn-taneous Income: Training on Practical Tropical Mushroom Cultivation and Value-Adding Technologies.” held on October 21–22, 2026.

Sessions covered mushroom biology, industry opportunities, common production challenges, pest management, and postharvest processing technologies, by Rich Milton R. Dulay, director of the CTMRD.

Also, Sofronio P. Kalaw, CLSU-Professor VI demonstrated media and grain spawn preparation, as well as fruiting bag and bed production techniques for oyster (Pleurotus) and paddy straw (Volvariella) mushrooms.

Meanwhile, Bismark E. Francisco, CTMRD’s Science Research Assistant shared practical ways on the financial management for mushroom enterprises, including return on investment (ROI), cost-benefit analysis, and projected net revenues.

Eugenia G. Baltazar, CED’s chief highlights the importance of learning mushroom cultivation, from production to value-adding, as well as proper cost management and quality control to build a successful mushroom business.

CED will offer more training sessions in the future to expand learning opportunities and community development.