Bulletin Autumn 1977

UNESCO Regional Training Course on Cultivation of Edible Fungi (Mushrooms) A "Training Course on Cultivation of Edible Fungi (Mushrooms)" was held from 27th June to 16th July, 1977 at the Chinese University. This training course was jointly organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the International Cell Research Organization (ICRO), the Committee for Scientific Co-ordination, Hong Kong, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The purpose of the training course was to provide the participants with the most advanced knowledge on and techniques in the use of wastes (paddy straw, cotton waste and sawdust etc.) for the cultivation of edible mushrooms. Dr. S. T. Chang of the Department of Biology of this University was Course Director, Professor R. V. Alicbusan (National Institute of Science and Technology, Philippines) Course Co-director and Dr. K. Y. Chan (Chinese University) Course Co-ordinator. Lecturers of this course included Professor G. Eger (West Germany), Professor Y. Hashioka (Japan), Professor R. V. Alicbusan (the Philippines) Dr. J. P. San Antonio (U.S.A.), Mr. S. Nutalaya (Thailand) and Dr. S. T. Chang, Dr. O. W. Lau and Dr. Y. S. Bau of this University. The 19 participants of this course came from Southeast Asian member states of UNESCO, including Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong and there were observers from Australia, the Philippines and Hong Kong. The Opening Ceremony of the course was held on 27th June, 1977 at this University. Dr. Choh-Ming Li, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. S. T. Chang, Mr. G. J. Bell, Chairman of Committee for Scientific Coordination, Hong Kong, and Dr. E. J. DaSilva UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, officiated at the Ceremony. Among the special guests of the training course were Dr. P. J. Bels President of International Commission on Mushroom Science, Holland, Mr. G. Trapp (UNESCO - Jakarta Office) and Professor C. G. Heden, Member of UNESCO/UNEP/ICRO panel in Microbiology, Sweden. Welcome Address by Dr. Choh-Ming Li I have always known mushrooms as delectable edibles in European and Chinese cooking. I enjoy eating them very much, especially in the way the Chinese prepare their dishes. little did I realize they could become a serious subject of academic interest with various economic, social and industrial implications until I learned from the research work carried out by our colleague Dr. S. T. Chang, who is so dedicated to the research and production of mushrooms that he is known as "Mr. Mushroom" in the local community. The significance of mushroom study can be evidenced from the opening of the Regional Training Course on Cultivation of Edible Fungi (Mushrooms) today which has attracted lecturers, participants, observers and guests of various research institutions and prestigious learned societies from over 10 countries. We are extremely pleased that this training course is jointly sponsored by 5 organizations and that The Chinese University of Hong Kong has the honour of being its host and co-sponsor. Since population explosion is posing a serious threat to the future of world development, students of natural sciences and social sciences have joined hands in trying to solve the problem of how to produce enough food for the ever-growing population each year. It concerns not only world peace, but also human survival. By virtue of high nutritional value, low cost of production and easy availability, mushrooms, when mass produced, may turn out to be one of the solutions to food shortage that has been