The Transnational Research Report (Deliverable 2.1) was developed within the framework of the Erasmus+ MUSHLINK Project, titled “Promoting Mushroom Farming in Western Balkans through strengthening linkages between VET providers and the business sector.” The report serves as the analytical foundation for the project’s training, capacity-building, and policy development activities across Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Greece

The research aims to assess the current state of mushroom farming and the vocational education and training (VET) ecosystem in the five partner countries. It identifies systemic gaps, regulatory frameworks, business conditions, and educational barriers, while highlighting mushroom farming as a sustainable and circular bio-economy opportunity for rural and peri-urban regions

The report combines desk research and field research (focus groups with public institutions, VET providers, and business representatives) to create an evidence-based overview of the sector.

Key Findings

Across the Western Balkans, agriculture remains socio-economically important but faces structural weaknesses. Small-scale farms dominate, often with aging farm managers and limited formal agricultural education. Youth and women participate significantly in agricultural labor, yet inequalities and limited access to subsidies remain challenges. These characteristics suggest strong potential for diversification into high-value, low-land-demand activities such as mushroom cultivation.

Mushroom farming is regulated under general food safety, plant health, and hygiene laws rather than sector-specific legislation. Countries have established sanitary controls, laboratory testing requirements, and food safety frameworks aligned with EU standards.

However, focus group findings reveal:

  • Limited institutional policies specifically targeting mushroom farming

  • Gaps in circular economy roadmaps

  • Uncertainty regarding biowaste reuse regulations

  • Insufficient financial incentives dedicated to fungi production

One of the report’s central findings concerns vocational education. Mushroom farming is largely absent or only marginally included in VET curricula across the partner countries.

Key barriers identified include:

  • Lack of teacher expertise (50–66% of educators)

  • Outdated or missing educational materials

  • Inadequate infrastructure (absence of grow rooms/labs)

  • Low prioritization of mushroom farming as a sector

Despite this, educators strongly support integrating mushroom farming into agricultural education, recognizing its potential for rural entrepreneurship, youth employment, and circular economy development.

Focus group participants unanimously (100%) recognized mushroom farming as a viable business opportunity with environmental and socio-economic benefits. The sector offers strong potential for:

  • Biowaste recycling and substrate reuse

  • Job creation in rural and peri-urban areas

  • Public-private-academic cooperation

  • Climate-smart and sustainable food production

The integration of circular economy principles—particularly the reuse of agricultural and urban bio-waste—emerges as a strategic opportunity for regional development.

The Transnational Research Report concludes that mushroom farming represents a high-potential, underdeveloped sector in the Western Balkans. While regulatory systems and agricultural foundations exist, significant gaps remain in education, institutional support, and sector visibility.

By bridging VET providers with the business ecosystem and embedding circular bio-economy principles, the MUSHLINK project positions mushroom farming as a driver of green transition, rural resilience, and inclusive economic growth in the region.

The report establishes a strong analytical baseline for transforming mushroom cultivation from a niche activity into a structured, innovative, and sustainable agricultural pathway.

You can read the full report https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cor8hHTRcBmTQc1TjniR2_KFDKX0v0iL

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