Twenty-three international trainees from eight Asian, African, and Oceanian countries visited Qingyuan county in Lishui, Zhejiang province, known as the "home of Chinese shiitake mushrooms", on Oct 27.

Trainees learn about shiitake mushrooms in Qingyuan county of Lishui, Zhejiang province, on Oct 27. [Photo/Tide News]

They came to study how the local shiitake industry has grown into an industry worth billions, seeking insights for global poverty reduction and food security.

At the Xiyangdian Forest-Mushroom Co-cultivation Base, they learned about an 800-year-old ecological practice balancing forest conservation and mushroom farming.

Beyond traditional wisdom, Qingyuan showcased modern innovations: a museum tracing cultivation history, automated mushroom spawn production lines, and labs developing cosmetics from edible fungi.

Trainees visit the Qingyuan Shiitake Museum in Lishui, Zhejiang province, on Oct 27. [Photo/Tide News]

Officials explained an integrated model that centralizes the start and end of production, while decentralizing the middle cultivation phase. Standardized spawn production and drying ensure quality, while decentralized mushroom management engages rural households and creates jobs for all ages.

A Ghanaian agricultural officer said that Qingyuan's eco-friendly model offers solutions to environmental challenges similar to those in Ghana and was impressed by the balance between cultural preservation and modernization.

Trainees learn about shiitake production at a factory in Qingyuan county of Lishui, Zhejiang province, on Oct 27. [Photo/Tide News]

Local entrepreneurs shared their shift from traditional exports to innovative products such as health foods and cosmetics, suggesting that other countries first master cultivation before advancing to processing.