Medicinal Mushrooms Conferences and Publications

In August 1993, UNESCO and the Department of Biology at the Chinese University in Hong Kong organized the 1^st International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products, marking an increased recognition of the significance and perspectives of mushrooms. This conference centered on mushroom biology, production and use, and brought together most of the leading mycologists. “The Nutritional and Medicinal Properties of Mushrooms” was one of five theme sessions held.

International Medicinal Mushrooms Journal and Conferences

In 1999, professors Solomon Wasser, Shu-Ting Chang and Takashi Mizuno founded the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms (Begell House, New York) which publishes the newest research. The journal has certainly helped heighten the interest in the West and increase the number of researchers. From 1999-2010 the journal published 4 issues a year, from 2011 6 issues a year, and from 2015 12 issues are planned. Dr. Ivan Jakopovich, from Myko San, has served on the editorial board since 2011.

In 2001, Solomon Wasser, Shu-Ting Chang and Takashi Mizuno started the International Medicinal Mushroom Conferences (IMMCs), where scientists could present their latest research. The 1^st International Medicinal Mushroom conference was held in Kiev, Ukraine (2001); followed by Pattaya, Thailand (2003); Port Townsend, USA (2005); Ljubljana, Slovenia (2007) and Nantong, China (2009).

S. T. Chang and Ivan Jakopovich together at the 5th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, Nantong, China, 2009. — Shu-Ting Chang and Ivan Jakopovich at the 5^th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference (Product Exhibition) in Nantong (China, 2009)

In 2011, Myko San hosted and organized the 6^th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference in Zagreb, Croatia. We feel honored to be the first, and (so far) the only European company to organize this important scientific event.

Solomon Wasser and Ivan Jakopovich open the 6th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference (Zagreb, 2011) — Solomon Wasser and Ivan Jakopovich at the opening of the 6^th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference in Zagreb, 2011, hosted by Myko San.

Read more about the Medicinal Mushroom Conference in Zagreb (coming soon) and Myko San research.

The 7^th IMMC was held in Beijing, in 2013, and the 8^th IMMC was held in Manizales, Colombia, 24-27th of August 2015. In both of these conferences we presented several new studies.

Other Conferences

Except the largest and most important IMMCs, there are 2 other notable conferences: International Conferences on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products (ICMBMPs) and African Conferences on Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms (ACEMMs).

Jan Lelley, the organizer of the 6th International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products in Bonn, 2008 with dr. Ivan Jakopovich. — Jan Lelley and Ivan Jakopovich at the 6^th International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products in Bonn, 2008.

The 1^st International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products (ICMBMP 1) was organized by the UNESCO and the Chinese University of Hong Kong in August 1993. World Society for Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products (WSMBMP) regularly organizes these conferences: including the conferences in Bonn (Germany, 2008), Arcachon (France, 2011) and New Delhi (India, 2014). Medicinal mushrooms are just one of the topics; the researchers also present their findings on taxonomy, genetics and biology of mushrooms, various methods of increasing production, improving their nutritional value, etc.

In Africa, African Society for Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms (ASEMM) organizes ACEMMs since 2006. The ACEMM 1 was organized in Kampala (Uganda; 2006), 2nd conference in Accra (Ghana; 2009), 3^rd in Windhoek (Namibia; 2012) and the 4^th was held in Kakamenga (Kenya; 2014).