QH147 becomes the first foreign shiitake mushroom strain to be registered in Japan.

    On August 26, the official website of Japan's "Variety Registration" platform published the details of newly registered varieties, and Qihe Bio's new strain QH147 was prominently listed. After three years of rigorous review, QH147 was successfully registered in Japan, becoming the first foreign Shiitake mushroom strain to be registered in the country. That same day, this information was officially announced in Japan's Official Gazette.

    Registering a foreign strain in Japan is no easy task. In early 2022, the company submitted an application for the registration of QH147 in Japan. Due to Japan's stringent emphasis on intellectual property protection and the exceptional quality of varietal characteristics, the bar for foreign strains to be registered in Japan is high, and the review process is extremely rigorous. The reviewing authority conducts multiple rounds of trait data collection—from mycelium to fruiting bodies, and from morphology to growth rate. Ultimately, through comprehensive digital representation, the distinct characteristics and advantages of this strain compared to existing Japanese strains are assessed to determine whether it is independently developed. Japan is one of the countries with the strictest standards for agricultural product access globally, particularly in terms of food safety, pest and disease control, and intellectual property protection for varieties.

    The successful registration of the QH147 strain signifies that its quality, safety, and stability meet the high-end demands of Japanese consumers. During the review process, the evaluating authority conducted a thorough and comprehensive assessment of the fruiting bodies. Characteristics such as cap size, diameter, thickness, stipe length, thickness, average dry weight of fruiting bodies, gill arrangement, and gill width were compared with multiple varieties. Ultimately, QH147 was recognized for its high yield, short growth cycle, and excellent quality, demonstrating distinct differences and promotional advantages. The realization of QH147's differentiated competitiveness fully illustrates the mature application of Qihe Bio's technologies in variety innovation and quality control, enabling precise development for both domestic and international markets. Adhering to "Product + Service" to Empower Mushroom Farmers High-quality seeds are the foundation of industrial development and the key to achieving "seed industry revitalization." Since its establishment, the company has continuously pursued research and development breakthroughs. In 2012, it founded a technology research institute dedicated to the independent R&D of shiitake mushroom strains. In 2019, the developed Qihe No. 2 and Qihe No. 9 strains overcame the challenge of relying on imported Japanese shiitake mushroom strains, giving shiitake mushroom strains a "Chinese core." These strains have been widely adopted and cultivated both domestically and internationally. Particularly, Qihe No. 9, after years of promotion and upgrades, has demonstrated high-quality and stable mushroom production, strong regional adaptability, and has established a solid and stable market foundation. Since 2023, Qihe No. 9 has achieved 100% coverage in domestic production regions.

    Qihe Bio has always prioritized germplasm optimization and improving product quality and yield as core tasks to drive the development of the characteristic edible mushroom industry. Strains such as Qihe No. 1, Qihe No. 3, and spore-free oyster Mushrooms employ a combination of traditional and molecular marker breeding techniques to enhance breeding efficiency. These strains break through the limitations of natural conditions such as region and climate, offering wider adaptability, easier cultivation, and meeting the diverse needs of mushroom farmers. After nearly two years of trial promotion, the advantages of the Qihe No. 3 strain have become evident. It has performed well in autumn, winter, and some summer mushroom production regions. Its short growth cycle, excellent morphology, thick cap, short stipe, light surface, resistance to bursting, ease of fruiting, and manageability have received widespread praise from growers. It has been extensively promoted and cultivated in major production regions such as Zunhua, Pingquan, Liaoning, and Henan. For years, Qihe Bio has adhered to a "product + service" approach by stationing professional technical teams and establishing service stations to provide customers with one-stop technical support, including guidance on mushroom cultivation.

    R&D Remains the Core Driver of Industrial Development Higher yields, faster growth rates, stronger environmental tolerance—on the path of China's mushroom industry development, the pursuit of higher-performing strains has no end. R&D remains the core driving force of industrial development. By 2025, the number of new shiitake mushroom variety rights applied for and granted to Qihe Bio will rank first in the country, with 22 high-yield, high-quality new strains entering large-scale trial stages. Currently, Qihe Bio has applied for 40 national new plant variety rights, filed patent applications for invention protection for 3 varieties, obtained 3 international invention patents, 21 domestic invention patents, and 22 utility model patents. It has also been awarded 8 provincial-level science and technology progress awards. Building on current advantages, we are continuously advancing R&D efforts to deeper levels: for existing strains, we will persistently optimize multiple dimensions such as yield, growth cycle, and tolerance; in the R&D of new strains, we will focus on breakthroughs in core technologies, leveraging cutting-edge biotechnology to systematically develop the next generation of edible mushroom strains. This will help mushroom farmers reduce costs, increase efficiency, and enhance market competitiveness.