CourseEstablished

Substrate Formulation & Pasteurization

Design productive substrate recipes and choose the right heat treatment, balancing nutrition, moisture, cost and contamination risk.

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Level

Course

Modules

Duration

3 months · 72 h

Next start

January 11, 2027

Fee

$450

Format

Live online

Certificate

Course Certificate

Language

English US

School

Cultivation

Program identification

1.1Program name: Substrate Formulation & Pasteurization
1.2Type of qualification: Course
1.3Provider / endorsing institution: Fungaris – International Institute of Mycology, School of Mushroom Cultivation & Production. A Fungaris program 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 program, not an official university degree).
1.6Language: English
1.7Start and end dates / intake: Next intake: January 11, 2027 to April 2, 2027. Enrollment closes on January 4, 2027. Following intake: March 8, 2027. How intakes work →

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Overview

2.1Program description

Substrate Formulation and Pasteurization explains why some substrate recipes produce heavy, clean flushes while others stall or contaminate. You will study the role of carbon, nitrogen and common supplements, learn to measure and adjust moisture content and pH, and compare pasteurization methods such as hot water, steam, cold lime and fermentation. The course also covers when supplemented substrates require full sterilization and how to test and optimize recipes systematically rather than by trial and error.

As growers scale up, substrate becomes one of the largest costs and the biggest source of variation in yield. Small changes in moisture, supplement level or heat treatment can decide whether a batch succeeds. This course suits growers moving beyond starter recipes and farm staff responsible for substrate preparation. In the final project you design and plan a trial of an improved substrate recipe for your main species, with ingredient costs, treatment method, measurement plan and success criteria, reviewed by your professor.

2.2Why it matters / what need it meets

It meets a practical need: applied, up-to-date knowledge in cultivation, useful in areas such as Commercial mushroom production, Substrate and input supply, Agricultural by-product processing, Applied agricultural research.

Mycology is moving fast and good practical training is still scarce. This program gives you a structured path, taught live by people who work in the field, so you can apply what you learn with judgment and safety.

Objectives and competences

3.1General objective

To finish the program able to apply its content professionally and with judgment. In short:

Design productive substrate recipes and choose the right heat treatment, balancing nutrition, moisture, cost and contamination risk.

3.2Specific objectives

Build the foundations: Substrate Ingredients and Nutrition; Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios and Supplements.
Put them into practice: Moisture Content and pH; Pasteurization Methods Compared.
Apply everything to a real case: Sterilization for Supplemented Substrates; Testing and Optimizing Recipes.
Complete a final project reviewed by your professor.

3.3Competences you will gain

Explain how substrate composition affects yield and contamination risk.
Calculate and adjust carbon-to-nitrogen ratios for common species.
Measure and correct substrate moisture and pH.
Select a pasteurization or sterilization method for a given recipe.
Design simple trials to compare and optimize substrate recipes.

Student profile

4.1Who it is for (entry profile)

Growers scaling production.

4.2Entry requirements

Some practical experience growing at least one species is recommended. Basic measuring equipment such as scales and pH strips is useful for the exercises.

4.3Career paths (exit profile)

Substrate preparation manager on a mushroom farm
Production technician optimizing recipes
Grower scaling a small farm
Technical adviser for substrate suppliers
Research assistant in applied mushroom trials

Sectors

Commercial mushroom productionSubstrate and input supplyAgricultural by-product processingApplied agricultural research

Outcomes depend on your experience and on your local market.

Study plan

5.1Overall structure (modules and workload)

Module	Title	Phase	Topics	Hours
01	Substrate Ingredients and Nutrition	Foundations	3	12
02	Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratios and Supplements	Foundations	3	12
03	Moisture Content and pH	Practice	3	12
04	Pasteurization Methods Compared	Practice	3	12
05	Sterilization for Supplemented Substrates	Application & project	3	12
06	Testing and Optimizing Recipes	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.

5.3Company placement

This program does not include a company placement. Practice is built into every module through exercises, case studies and the final project.

5.4Final project

A costed trial plan for an improved substrate recipe, with treatment method, measurement plan and success criteria.

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 professor 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

Assessment is based on participation in live sessions and module exercises with calculations. The final project is reviewed by the professor with detailed feedback.

40%Participation and module exercises

60%Final project

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 professor.

Teaching team

8.1Academic direction

The Cultivation at Fungaris coordinates the content and quality of this program. The academic director of each intake is named in the intake guide.

8.2Faculty

Taught by professionals who work in the field. The professor of each intake is confirmed before the start.

Meet our faculty →

Certificate

9.1Certificate awarded

Course Certificate

On completing the program and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of 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 enrollment

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

Enrollment for the intake starting on January 11, 2027 is open until January 4, 2027, or until the group is full (maximum 20 students).

10.4Fee and payment options

Fee: $450

Full payment before the start: $360 (20% reduction).
40% reservation ($180) and 3 monthly installments of $90.

Fees and financing →

10.5Grants, discounts and funding

Discounts: 10% for Fungaris alumni and 15% for groups of three or more people from the same organization. Discounts cannot be combined with each other or with the full-payment reduction.

Your employer can pay for the program 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 canceling, withdrawing or moving to a later intake are explained in our cancellation policy and in your enrollment 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 Substrate Formulation & Pasteurization?

Some practical experience growing at least one species is recommended. Basic measuring equipment such as scales and pH strips is useful for the exercises.

How is Substrate Formulation & Pasteurization taught?

Live online, in 6 modules with a working professional, a small group and a final project.

How am I assessed?

Assessment is based on participation in live sessions and module exercises with calculations. The final project is reviewed by the professor with detailed feedback.

What is the final project?

A costed trial plan for an improved substrate recipe, with treatment method, measurement plan and success criteria.

What certificate do I get?

On completing the program and its project, Fungaris issues a Course Certificate. Accreditations are assessed according to the training completed and the local regulations of each country.

What can I study after Substrate Formulation & Pasteurization?

The natural next step is Diploma in Gourmet Mushroom Production.

11.2Alumni testimonials

We only publish verified testimonials from real students. This program does not have any published yet; they will appear here once its first intakes finish.