China's edible fungus output has surged to more than 10 million tons annually in recent years, accounting for over 70 percent of the global total, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

MOA figures show that the edible fungus industry ranks sixth among domestic plant production industries following grain, cotton, food oil, vegetables and fruits. China's edible fungus accounts for 80 percent of the foreign trade in Asia and 40 percent of world's total. Last year, China earned 230 million US dollars from trade of edible fungus.

Gu Erxiong, president of the China Edible Fungus Association, forecast promising prospects for edible fungus production. "More people, both at home and abroad, have realized that edible fungus is nutritious and good to health," he said.

Zhang Jinsong, an expert with the Shanghai Municipal Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that although China has become a major edible fungus producer in the world, efforts are still needed to improve technologies used in the processing of fungus, and more strict standards should be set for production environment.

Zhang called on concerned government departments to strengthen registration of edible fungus varieties and management of procedures for fungus export. "By doing so, China can play its due role in adjusting global fungus resources and prices," Zhang said.