In the early morning, as mist still lingers over Wayue Village in Karub Town, Karub District of Qamdo City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, the 26 greenhouses are already bustling with activity.

On this land at an altitude of 3,100 meters, a historic momentis unfolding at the Edible and Medicinal Fungi Experimental Base of the Qamdo Agricultural Science Research Institute—the first large-scale harvest of locally cultivated morel mushrooms. Spanning over 6,667㎡, this demonstration base epitomizes the institute's efforts in recent years to industrialize morel mushroom production. As one of the city's first five pilot bases, Wayue Village has engaged over 300 villagers in morel cultivation, with an estimated average annual household income increase exceeding 20,000 yuan(RMB).

Turning "cold" resources into a "hot" industry

Located in the heart of the Hengduan Mountains, at the core of the parallel flow of the Jinsha, Lancang, and Nujiang rivers, Qamdo City has an average elevation of 3,500 meters. Its significant day-night temperature variations, intense ultraviolet radiation, and pristine air create a unique natural environment for morel mushroom growth. Additionally, the rich humus in the soil, clean water sources, and low pest risk provide ideal conditions for organic farming.

In recent years, morel mushrooms—a rare edible and medicinal fungus—have gained popularity for their distinctive texture and nutritional value. However, wild morels are limited, and the high technical barriers to artificial cultivation have long kept supply falling short of demand.

"Qamdo faces a six-month off-season for vegetable production. Across its 10 counties and one district, there are 6,764 vegetable greenhouses, but from October to March, only cold-resistant crops like radishes, Chinese cabbage, and bok choy can be grown due to the harsh weather," explained Niu Jiping, director of the Qamdo Agricultural Science Research Institute, pointing to a temperature and humidity monitor. "Morels thrive in cool climates, with an optimal growth temperature of 8–15°C. Qamdo's prolonged winter cold aligns perfectly with their growth cycle."

Leveraging this advantage, the institute utilized its newly operational edible and medicinal fungi seed production facility, launched in April 2024, to conduct experimental morel cultivation.

Morels are highly sensitive to their environment, and strain adaptability is the core challenge in artificial cultivation. Collaborating with the Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Qamdo institute tackled the hurdles of high-altitude fungi production. They also partnered with the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Kunming Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences to identify cold-resistant, high-quality strains such as "Liu Mei," "Qi Mei," "D6," and "G10."

Writing a "big story" with "little mushrooms"

As Niu Jiping gazed at the morels dotting the fields like stars, his three years of anxiety finally began to ease. The scenes from the laboratory at that time were still vivid in his memory: introduced strains withered one after anotherin simulated high-altitude conditions, while logistics records showed that the cost of refrigerated transport into Xizang sometimes exceeded the value of the strains themselves.

"A single greenhouse requires about 1,200 nutrient bags, pushing the cultivation cost per greenhouse over 10,000 yuan. Scaling up seemed impossible," Niu recalled. Unwilling to give up, he and his team worked tirelessly, turning the lab into a place of ceaseless activity.

After nearly three years of experimentation, they succeeded in localizing strain and nutrient bag production, achieving an annual output of over 200,000 bags for varieties like oyster mushrooms, shiitake, wood ear, and golden oyster mushrooms. They also developed the "intelligent temperature-controlled greenhouse + fungal fertilizer improvement" technique.

With technological backing, the institute began promoting large-scale cultivation. Five demonstration bases were established—at the Qamdo Agricultural Science Research Institute, Wayue Village, Hara Village in Exi Township, Jialin Village in Eluo Town, and the Military Production Regiment—with over 100 greenhouses cultivating morels exceeding 50 mu (33,333m²).

From "experimental fields" to an "industrial hub"

"During the mycelial growth stage, humidity must be maintained at 70%, and temperatures should not exceed 18°C..." Inside a greenhouse at the demonstration base, members of an inspection team from Banbar County crouched among the fungi, carefully noting down cultivation tips.

"We came specifically to learn from this successful harvest and plan to trial six greenhouses in Caoka and Banbar towns," one team member shared, expressing confidence and thanks to the expert guidance.

Prior to this, delegations from Karub, Chagyab, Baxoi, Gonjo, Jomda, and Lhorong counties had already visited to study off-season morel cultivation. Beyond on-site training, the institute also provides targeted guidance through its "Agricultural Technology Outreach Program." In recent years, the city has dispatched over 5,000 experts to 138 townships, benefiting nearly 200,000 residents.

"Morels are not just a delicacy—they're a 'golden key' to rural revitalization," Niu Jiping emphasized. Moving forward, the institute will focus on developing more resilient strains, establishing model cultivation bases, and expanding technical training to transform this highland "black gold" into a true driver of prosperity.

Reporters: Zhou Tingting, Phuntsok Namgyal

Translator: Liu Fang, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Drakpa Wangchen