The dual challenge of agricultural waste accumulation and protein malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa demands locally adapted, evidence-based solutions. This study optimised the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm. on blends of cocoa pod husk (CPH), hardwood sawdust and composted vegetable waste, with the objective of maximising biological efficiency (BE), nutritional quality and economic viability under Nigerian field-relevant conditions. Six substrate treatments (T1–T6) were evaluated in a completely randomised design (n = 5 replicates per treatment; 30 bags total). The optimal formulation, T5 (58% sawdust, 25% CPH, 10% vegetable waste, 5% rice bran, 2% lime and gypsum), achieved a total fresh-weight yield of 1,169 ± 82 g kg⁻¹ dry substrate (BE = 116.9%), mycelial colonisation in 18.4 ± 1.0 days and a crude protein content of 30.7 ± 1.8% dry weight — representing improvements of 57%, 21% and 44%, respectively, over the sawdust-only control (T1). Essential amino acid (EAA) analysis revealed that T5 met or exceeded WHO/FAO reference requirements for 8 of 9 EAAs, with total EAA at 44.5 g 100 g⁻¹ protein (143% of requirement). Life cycle assessment (ISO 14040) confirmed 98–99% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, water use and land use relative to conventional beef protein. Enterprise budget analysis indicated a return on investment (ROI) of 321% per 100 kg production cycle (₦33,350 total cost; ₦140,280 retail revenue). Multisite pilot trials across three agro-ecological zones achieved 95.7% average yield retention relative to laboratory conditions (ANOVA: F(2,27) = 2.14, p = 0.136), confirming protocol robustness. These findings demonstrate that CPH–sawdust–vegetable waste blends represent a cost-effective, nutritionally superior and environmentally sustainable approach to oyster mushroom production in tropical West Africa. Submitted to the African Journal of Biotechnology, 12 March 2026. Currently under peer review.
Kingsley Eñeogwe (Sun,) studied this question.