Fruiting Body vs Mycelium: Choosing Raw Materials
Compare fruiting bodies, mycelium on grain and liquid-culture biomass as raw materials, including composition, labelling and quality debates.
Programme identification
- 1.1Programme name
- Fruiting Body vs Mycelium: Choosing Raw Materials
- 1.2Type of qualification
- Course
- 1.3Provider / endorsing institution
- Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Medicinal & Functional Fungi. A Fungaris programme of its own, not endorsed by a university.
- 1.4Mode of study
- Online, with live sessions in a small group, recordings and a virtual campus.
- 1.5Duration (hours / ECTS credits)
- 3 months (12 weeks) · 72 hours in total · 6 modules of 12 hours · 12 live sessions of 2 hours. ECTS credits: not applicable (Fungaris own programme, not an official university degree).
- 1.6Language
- English
- 1.7Start and end dates / intake
- Next intake: 11 January 2027 to 2 April 2027. Enrolment closes on 4 January 2027. Following intake: 8 March 2027. How intakes work →
Overview
2.1Programme description
This course examines one of the most debated questions in the functional mushroom trade: should products be made from fruiting bodies, mycelium grown on grain, or biomass from liquid culture? You will learn the life cycle and tissue types of medicinal fungi, how each raw material is produced, what it typically contains, and how the presence of residual grain starch affects analysis and labelling.
Buyers, brand owners and quality professionals are often caught between competing marketing narratives. The course replaces slogans with production knowledge and comparative analytical data, showing where each raw material has genuine strengths and where transparency is lacking. You will learn how to write specifications that reflect the real nature of a material, audit suppliers and communicate honestly with customers. In your final project you will prepare a raw material sourcing decision report for a specific product, comparing fruiting body, mycelium-on-grain and liquid culture options against defined criteria, with a recommended specification and supplier questions.
2.2Why it matters / what need it meets
It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in medicinal fungi, useful in areas such as ingredient sourcing, dietary supplements, quality assurance, mushroom production.
Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This programme gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgement and safety.
Objectives and competences
3.1General objective
To finish the programme able to apply its content professionally and with judgement. In short:
Compare fruiting bodies, mycelium on grain and liquid-culture biomass as raw materials, including composition, labelling and quality debates.
3.2Specific objectives
- Build the foundations: Life Cycle and Tissue Types of Medicinal Fungi; Fruiting Body Production and Composition.
- Put them into practice: Mycelium on Grain: Starch Content and Labelling; Submerged Liquid Culture Biomass.
- Apply everything to a real case: Comparative Analytical Data; Specifications, Supplier Audits and Transparency.
- Complete a final project reviewed by your tutor.
3.3Competences you will gain
- Explain how fruiting body, grain mycelium and liquid culture materials are produced.
- Interpret analytical data comparing different fungal raw materials.
- Recognise how residual grain starch affects test results.
- Write a specification that accurately describes a fungal raw material.
- Conduct informed supplier audits on raw material origin.
Student profile
4.1Who it is for (entry profile)
Buyers, brand owners and quality professionals.
4.2Entry requirements
Basic familiarity with medicinal mushroom products is recommended. No laboratory or cultivation equipment is required.
4.3Career paths (exit profile)
- Raw material buyer for a supplement company
- Brand owner selecting ingredients for a product range
- Quality manager responsible for supplier approval
- Technical account manager at an ingredient supplier
- Consultant advising brands on sourcing transparency
Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.
Study plan
5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)
| Module | Title | Phase | Topics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Life Cycle and Tissue Types of Medicinal Fungi | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 02 | Fruiting Body Production and Composition | Foundations | 3 | 12 |
| 03 | Mycelium on Grain: Starch Content and Labelling | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 04 | Submerged Liquid Culture Biomass | Practice | 3 | 12 |
| 05 | Comparative Analytical Data | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| 06 | Specifications, Supplier Audits and Transparency | Application & project | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 72 |
6 modules × 12 hours = 72 hours: 24 hours of live sessions, and the rest for campus study, exercises and the final project.
5.2Content by module
Hover or tap a module to follow the path from the first session to the final project. Open a module to see the topics it covers.
- Spores, mycelium and fruiting bodies
- Sclerotia and other structures
- Why tissue type affects composition
- Indoor and outdoor fruiting systems
- Typical compounds in fruiting bodies
- Yield and cost factors
- How grain-based mycelium is produced
- Residual starch and its measurement
- Label wording and consumer expectations
- Submerged fermentation basics
- Biomass and broth fractions
- Consistency and scale advantages
- Glucan and starch data compared
- Marker compound profiles
- Interpreting published comparisons
- Writing honest specifications
- Questions for supplier audits
- Transparent customer communication
5.3Company placement
This programme does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.
5.4Final project
A sourcing decision report comparing fruiting body, mycelium-on-grain and liquid culture options for a specific product.
Methodology
6.1How it is taught
- Live online sessions, usually weekly, with a working professional and a small group.
- Recordings of every session, so you can catch up if work or time zones get in the way.
- Exercises and real case studies in every module.
- Tutoring: your tutor answers questions and gives feedback on your exercises and project.
6.2Platform and resources
A Moodle virtual campus with session recordings, readings, exercises and forums for each module. You need a computer, an up-to-date browser and a stable connection; a webcam and microphone are recommended.
Technical requirements →6.3Estimated weekly workload
About 6 hours a week for 12 weeks: one 2-hour live session on a weekday evening, plus study and exercises on the campus at your own pace.
Assessment
7.1Assessment system and weighting
Progress is assessed through live-session participation and module exercises such as data interpretation and specification drafting. The final sourcing report is reviewed by the tutor.
7.2Requirements to pass
- Complete every module, by attending the live sessions or watching the recordings.
- Hand in the module exercises.
- Have your final project approved by your tutor.
Teaching team
8.1Academic direction
At Fungaris, the Medicinal Fungi school coordinates the content and quality of this programme. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.
8.2Faculty
Taught by professionals who work in the field. The tutor for each intake is confirmed before the start.
Meet our faculty →Certificate
9.1Certificate awarded
Course Certificate
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
9.2Issuing body / recognition
Issued by Fungaris (operated by Nexora Generation, S.L.) as a digital certificate. It is a Fungaris certificate of its own: it is not an official university degree and does not award ECTS credits.
About our certificates →Admission and enrolment
10.1Admission process (steps)
- Send your request through the form or write to admissions.
- Admissions reviews your profile and confirms the start date, the session schedule and the fee.
- You secure your place with full payment or a 40% reservation.
- You receive your campus access and welcome guide before the first session.
10.2Documents required
- A valid identity document.
- Contact and billing details (personal or company).
10.3Deadlines
Enrolment for the intake starting on 11 January 2027 is open until 4 January 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).
10.4Fee and payment options
Fee: £340
- Full payment before the start: £272 (20% reduction).
- 40% reservation (£136) and 3 monthly instalments of £68.
10.5Grants, discounts and funding
Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organisation. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.
Your employer can pay for the programme and receive the invoice in the company name. Whether a public or employer training budget can cover the fee depends on your country, so check with them.
10.6Cancellation policy
The conditions for cancelling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrolment confirmation. Nothing there limits your rights under the consumer law that applies to you.
Cancellation and refunds →Additional information
11.1Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to study Fruiting Body vs Mycelium: Choosing Raw Materials?
Basic familiarity with medicinal mushroom products is recommended. No laboratory or cultivation equipment is required.
How is Fruiting Body vs Mycelium: Choosing Raw Materials taught?
Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.
How am I assessed?
Progress is assessed through live-session participation and module exercises such as data interpretation and specification drafting. The final sourcing report is reviewed by the tutor.
What is the final project?
A sourcing decision report comparing fruiting body, mycelium-on-grain and liquid culture options for a specific product.
What certificate do I get?
On completing the programme and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Fungaris certificates are the institute's own. Whether an employer, school or authority recognises them depends on that organisation and on local rules in each country.
What can I study after Fruiting Body vs Mycelium: Choosing Raw Materials?
The natural next step is Diploma in Functional & Medicinal Mushrooms.
11.2Alumni testimonials
We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This programme does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.
11.3Admissions contact
Write to info@fungaris.institute or use the contact form. Admissions answers in your language.
Read before you start.
Keep branching.
From our species guide.
Join the next intake.
Pay in full with a 20% reduction, or reserve your place with 40% and pay the rest in monthly instalments. All prices are stated in pounds sterling (GBP).