The Science and Technology Advisory Council-Japan Chapter (STAC-J) has funded a training program on commercial mushroom production together with the Central Luzon State University-Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development.

This program was among the few undertaken by the institute that is pushing for the commercialization of mushroom production in the country according to an article in the April 2007 issue of Agriculture magazine featuring Dr. Renato Reyes, STACJ member and a Tokyo University of Agriculture alumnus.

Through Dr. Reyes’ initiative, a Php 50,000 grant was given by STACJ for a training program aimed on earning while learning mushroom production. The program, which was attended mostly by biology students, encouraged participants to expand production from backyard to commercial scale which is more lucrative. Funds generated are used for the production operation of the project and for funding deserving fourth year students doing research work on mushroom.