With a desire to start a business in the field of high-tech agriculture in line with the Da Nang development orientation, Ph.D Nguyen Thanh Trung from the Centre for Molecular Biology, the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Da Nang-based Duy Tan University and his partner Nguyen Thien Khiem from Cam Le District successfully developed a Cordyceps sinensis mushroom cultivation model. Products made from cordyceps under this innovative model have affirmed their brands in the domestic market.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung (left) and Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen (right) award the first prize for the project ‘The cordyceps farming cabinet model at the household scale’ developed by the Da Nang-based Vinseed Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Photo: L.V

Sharing the same entrepreneurial spirit, in 2018, Trung and Khiem joined efforts to study the cultivation process of Cordyceps sinensis in an artificial environment in Da Nang. Overcoming many repeated difficulties and failures, the duo completed the production process of Cordyceps sinensis with cordycepin and adenosine content meting the standards of the General Department of Standards, Metrology, Quality and food safety and hygiene regulations as well. 

Faced with actual needs, the Vinseed Biotechnology Co., Ltd was established in Cam Le District, specializing in producing Cordyceps sinensis in supply for the market. Realising that the supply is not enough, the company expands its production scale to 200-300kg of fresh Cordyceps sinensis per month, equivalent to 30-50kg of dried ones.

From this source of raw materials, the company has created many products such as dried cordyceps with 4-star OCOP standard, honey, wine and powder soaked with Cordyceps sinensis combined with some precious medicinal herbs.

According to Trung, who is the Vinseed company’s director, Cordyceps sinensis is a medicinal mushroom with many good uses for health. Currently, this field is developing in many localities, and especially, Da Nang has a few successful farming units.Therefore, products from Cordyceps sinensis are sold at high prices.

This fungus requires strict growth conditions with a temperature of 18-25 degrees Celsius, humidity more than 80% and light intensity 600-700 Lux. Meanwhile, Da Nang has a very hot summer, so the growing room must have an air-conditioning system to maintain a regular temperature of 20-22 degrees Celsius. In addition, there must be humidifiers and LED lights provide light, air supply systems.

Despite having basic expertise, the practical application of mushroom farming encounterd many difficulties. In the first stage, the fungus was infected with diseases, grew poorly, and the number of sprouts was not of good quality, causing great damage. After nearly half a year of research, we have perfected the quality cordyceps sinensis production process," said Trung.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Thien Khiem, the Vinseed company’s Deputy Director, said that the company actively registered the intellectual property for its products and at the same time registering for barcode number for each product.

Currently, the company's products are printed with QR codes and zalo OA (Zalo Official Account) so that customers can easily access to check the product origin.

The company's products always ensure quality and are much trusted by consumers. The products are now available in large amounts in many provinces and cities across the country through traditional sales channels and on e-commerce sites such as Lazada, Tiki and Shopee.

The company’s cordyceps products are raised entirely from the protein source of spirulina and plants, so they are rich in nutrients and do not cause allergies.

Currently, Vinseed is testing new product lines, and in the first quarter of 2023, there will be some more products combined with other medicinal herbs, hereby increasing the effectiveness of consumption. In addition to production and business performance, the company has improved the automatic cordyceps culture cabinet and provided embryos so that people can raise their own at home, use cordyceps products with high quality yet low cost.

In addition, the cordyceps farming cabinet is equipped with devices to regulate temperature, humidity, light, and ventilation, connecting smartphones and the company's server system so that people can track and the company controls all of the process specifications.

A cabinet can grow 50 -100 embryos / batch. This model helps people develop products to improve their health, create a new livelihood that brings a significant source of income without the need for specialised knowledge.

In fact, in the past time, there are dozens of establishments and people using cabinets to grow their own crops, bringing high income.

The project ‘The cordyceps farming cabinet model at the household scale’ initiated by the Vinseed company has also won the first prize of the SURF 2022 Innovation and Startup competition organised by the municipal Department of Science and Technology.

Reporting by LE VUONG - Translating by A.THU