The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has launched the Smart Mushroom House, a state-of-the-art research facility powered by Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, aimed at advancing sustainable agriculture, promoting the circular bioeconomy, and supporting the National Food Security Strategy 2051 through applied research and national student development.
Established at Al Foah Research Farm in Al Ain Region, the facility was developed by a research team from the Department of Integrative Agriculture at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine as part of the ASPIRE Research Institute for Food Security in Drylands (ARIFSID) project titled Date Palm Waste Management and Mushroom Production for Food Security, headed by Dr. Shyam Kurup, in international collaboration with the Omex Laboratory at the University of Malaya.
The initiative integrates smart agriculture technologies to recycle date palm and other biological waste into natural substrates for cultivating highly nutritious mushroom species, contributing to sustainable food production in arid and dryland environments.
The Smart Mushroom House is an intelligent research platform powered by IoT technologies, enabling precise control of temperature, humidity, lighting, and ventilation. The facility includes three independent smart cultivation tents and a central incubator for climate simulation, allowing the simultaneous cultivation of multiple mushroom species under optimal conditions.
The facility has the capacity to accommodate up to 600 mushroom cultivation bags per cycle holding nearly 3 tonnes of substrate with a production of 20-30 per cent against the substrate depending on the species. The research currently focuses on species such as oyster mushrooms, lion’s mane, Ganoderma, chicken-of-the-woods, turkey tail, and king oyster mushrooms, in addition to ongoing work on domesticating local desert truffles (Faqa/Zubaidi) under controlled conditions. The project also explores value-added applications, including mycelium-based functional foods, edible films and efficient conversion of Spent Mushroom Waste (SMS) to nano-biochar.
The project is led by Dr. Shyam S. Kurup, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Agriculture, with support from Dr. Dali Vilma Francis, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Malu Kishorkumar, PhD Scholar. A key pillar of the Smart Mushroom House initiative is developing Emirati talent through hands-on, applied research aligned with national priorities.
The facility currently supports one doctoral and three undergraduate research projects, with three UAE national undergraduate students, Maitha Al Dhaheri, Reem Al Mutairi, and Al Yaziya Al Nuaimi playing an active role in the project. Their research focuses on developing standardised production protocols for local mushroom species and optimising agricultural substrates suitable for UAE environmental conditions. The research outcome of these students were aligned with the SDG initiative and presented before the UAE National SDG committee during November 2025. The student Ghalia Abdulla AlKhateri secured second place for her research on agri-waste valorisation for sustainable mushroom production using date pomace at Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment during May 2025.
The design of the Smart Mushroom House prioritises local resources and species adapted to the UAE environment, while preserving local species of mushrooms, especially desert truffles. The team has already successfully harvested oyster mushrooms, which were distributed to the university community as part of sustainability and outreach initiatives.
Beyond research, the project includes training programmes for students, farmers and individuals interested in sustainable agriculture, supporting knowledge transfer and the practical application of research outcomes. By transforming agricultural waste into high-value food resources, the Smart Mushroom House serves as a practical model for the circular bioeconomy, integrating artificial intelligence, smart agriculture, and sustainability. The initiative reinforces UAEU’s leadership in developing innovative, technology-driven solutions for food security in arid and dryland environments.
