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Project Mushroom
Manila, Philippines, PhilippinesSiniloan Laguna, Philippines
Paula Patrice d...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEFqNj8lFGM
Year Founded:
2015
Organization type:
hybrid
Project Stage:
Idea
Budget:
$1,000 - $10,000

Corporate social responsibility

Globalization
Marketing
Microfinance
Community development
Economic development
Poverty alleviation
Rural development
Eco Products
Ecology
Recycling
Biodiversity

Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

Project Mushroom is a social enterprise aiming to foster and encourage farmers towards agribusiness enterprises through Oyster and Milky
mushroom production using fruiting bags. Oyster and Milky mushrooms has strong nutritional and health benefits that can help prevent cancer
and other diseases.

WHAT IF - Inspiration: Write one sentence that describes a way that your project dares to ask, "WHAT IF?"

The average age of farmers in the Philippines is 57 years old. If we don't encourage now who will feed us tomorrow?

About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

There are 3 key problems that our start up is aiming to address: Malnutrition and increasing demand for healthy food options, rampant increase
of environmental problems that led to climate change, and income opportunities to farmers and unemployed housewives. The Philippines' rate
of malnutrition is starting to increase due to less healthy food options, fast food are rampant but Filipinos are now searching for healthier
options

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

Project Mushroom is a social enterprise aiming to foster and encourage farmers towards agribusiness enterprises through Oyster and Milky
mushroom production using fruiting bags. Oyster and Milky mushrooms has strong nutritional and health benefits that can help prevent cancer
and cardiovascular diseases, unlike other vegetables mushrooms will not lose its nutritional content amidst any production process. That's the
reason why we will turn those fresh mushrooms into value added products such as noodle and seasoning that will not just fit consumers taste
buds but give them extraordinary health benefits. "Local Production towards stronger economy" Project Mushroom is not for one time charity
but for sustainable cause of living.

Awards

YE Boost Camp Amsterdam - National Winner; University of Philippines Junior Finance Association Venture - Champion; Fueling the Dream -
Finalist

Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.
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"Corporate social responsibility is not alms or donation but sustainable cause of living that enhance our country's human and natural resources"
Project Mushroom aims to empower our local farmers towards agribusiness enterprises, we believe that's farmers are not meant for a lifetime
employment, they are meant to establish their own agribusiness towards sustainable cause of living. That's the underlying reason for our business
model, supply of mushroom will be coming from a farmers cooperative, a program called "grow now, pay later" wherein the farmers can grow and
cultivate their own mushrooms in their backyards and pay the capital incrementally every harvest.

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

"Local Production towards stronger economy" The Philippines is importing 150 metric tons of mushroom a year which is equivalent to 90% of the
total mushroom supply in the country. Why do we need to import if we can produce here? Project Mushroom will be having 3 source of income:
Fresh Mushrooms, there is a demand of almost 30 kgs a day in Laguna area alone, selling it Php 300 per kilo. Another source of income are value
added products such as mushroom canton which is sold for Php 78 per bundle and mushroom seasoning which is sold for Php 500 per kilo. Lastly,
organic fertilizers from compost and cast coming from African Night Crawlers waste can be sold for Php 40 per bag. According to our sales
forecast for the first year, from the initial capital of Php 2,000,000 there is a return of almost Php 4,079,076 maximizing the production to 900
square meters lot which is more than a 100% ROI

Spread Strategies: Moving forward, what are the main strategies for scaling impact?

Project Mushroom is a social enterprise aiming to foster and encourage farmers towards agribusiness enterprises through Oyster and Milky
mushroom production using fruiting bags. Oyster and Milky mushrooms has strong nutritional and health benefits that can help prevent cancer and
cardiovascular diseases, unlike other vegetables mushrooms will not lose its nutritional content amidst any production process. That's the reason
why we will turn those fresh mushrooms into value added products such as noodle and seasoning that will not just fit consumers taste buds but
give them extraordinary health

Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

No waste system towards productivity" According to research one of the main cause of hyphening global warming is burning. Every harvest
season, agriculture and industrial waste such as rice straw, saw dust and rice bran are burned because they are considered as no value. Project
Mushroom found a way to turn those into a great opportunity. Agriculture and industrial waste will serve as the raw materials for mushroom
production through fruiting bag

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these
approaches?

Our difference is we are not for one time charity, we are for continuous development towards sustainable income and to establish independence for
the farmers.

Team

Founding Story

We saw the hardship. We saw passion. We saw opportunities. We saw progress, progress hindered by poor judgement. We starred as an average
student looking ofr change.

Team

One of Project Mushroom's Co-Founder is Paula Patrice M. dela Cruz, she is from the University of Sto. Tomas. Together as a team she spent
months studying the ways in cultivating mushrooms, growing techniques and different types of mushroom that can suit the needs of the target
market. She have won several business competitions both individual and group category for international and local competitions. Championship for
local and group competitions includes Association of Marketing Educators Business Plan Category and UP JFA Venture. International and
individual category include National Winner Start Up Summit and chosen as one of the 10 Top Participants for this year's Ye! Boost Camp to be
held in Amsterdam, she will also participate in this year's Harvard Intercollegiate Business Seminar and HUWID Innovation Competition in Boston.
She is also elected as the CEO of her organization JA Mini Company and research & marketing consultant of Tinapayan Festivals. One of Project
Mushroom's Co-Founder is Rio E. Abrenica. She is from University of Sto. Tomas as well, she is very equip and trained for financial and sales
forecasting. Together with the team, she spent months studying the different behavior of mushrooms and the right mix for a productive cultivation.
Alongside with the team, she also won several business plan competitions such as Association of Marketing Educator's Business Plan Category
Champion, UP JFA Venture Business Idea champion. She currently the Asst. Director for Public Relations of Junior Achievement Marketing
Society and the Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing for JA Mini Company. When it comes to real life experience she is hired by
Tinapayan Festival as marketing and financial consultant. Together with the team, she served as a brand developer for a new coffee shop around
UST owned by Tinapayan Festival namely Bean Belt Coffee. One of Project Mushroom's Co-Founder is Keith Elgin E. Caasi. He is from University
of Sto. Tomas. He is well trained and equip in Logistics and Productions. Together with the team, he spent months studying the different behavior
of mushrooms in different temperature and market demand for mushroom as well. Alongside with the team, he also won several business plan
competitions such as Association of Marketing Educator's Business Plan Category Champion, UP JFA Venture business idea champion. He is
currently the Vice President for Productions of JA Mini Company. He is also hired as marketing and research consultant of Tinapayan Festivals.
The team is composed of diverse individuals that believes that social responsibilty should come first and surely profit and success will follow, their
long term goal is to be one of the proponent of social change and social entrepreneurship.

Background
Please confirm how you heard about the Unilever Awards:

Through Social Media

Please confirm your role in the initiative (eg Founder/co-Founder) and your organisational title:

Founder
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 Which of the 8 UN Global Goals (Sustainable Development Goals) pre-selected for this competition does your solution relate most
closely to? [select all that apply]

Decent Work and Economic Growth, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action.

Leadership and the Unilever Awards

Please provide examples of any previous entrepreneurial initiatives you have pioneered.
Beyond your existing team, who else are you working with to achieve your objectives, eg partners, advisors, mentors?

Source URL: https://www.changemakers.com/globalgoals2015/entries/project-mushroom