Todaydelegates at the All Ireland and UK Mushroom Conference and Trade Show in Monaghan discussed how Ireland and the UK's mushroom industries are ‘Harnessing Innovation'. The conference, sponsored by Bord Bia, brought together growers, scientists and suppliers from all 32 counties of Ireland, and again from the UK as well.
The event, themed 'Harnessing Innovation', was opened by Tom Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with special responsibility for Horticulture. Speaking at the event Minister Hayes said, "Accounting for almost 50% of the value of our edible horticultural output, the mushroom industry is by far the most important sector within Ireland's horticultural industry. The strong export focus and high employment levels add further to the sector's contribution to the Irish economy and especially the rural economy. Irish mushroom growers are among the most technologically advanced and efficient in the world. The mushroom industry like every other sector in the modern economy must continue to strive to generate further efficiencies and to reduce overall costs."
He was joined by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, who echoed his sentiments saying, "I'm encouraged to see Ireland and Britain coming together for this conference and trade show, to share experiences and help to drive the mushroom industry forward. I have always been a champion of our agri-food industry and am delighted to say it continues to be a significant growth sector for the local economy with turnover in the food and drinks industry heading towards £5 billion. Recent statistics also show an increase in employment of 5% as well as increased exports of more than 7%. Clearly, we need to have a thriving farm production sector if we are to maintain a thriving food processing sector. Mushroom growers, producers, packers, marketers and researchers are all key to that growth. Their optimistic approach and determination is to be applauded".
Dermot Callaghan who is head of both horticulture at Teagasc and of the organising committee told delegates that, this year's conference theme, ‘Harnessing Innovation' reflects the progressive and innovative culture in the mushroom industry where entrepreneurial producers grasp every opportunity to increase efficiencies and maximize profits. The industry has a track record of innovating around challenges and today, we have one of the most technologically advanced mushroom sectors in the world, which provides a strong platform to meet the challenges of the future".
A Mushroom Industry in Growth
Bord Bia estimates the combined North and South mushroom production has a farm gate value of €173 million. UK mushroom production is estimated be worth £115 million at farm gate level. The majority of Irish production is sold on the export market, with 80 percent exported each year. Bord Bia reported that mushroom sales remain steady both in Ireland and in the UK, Ireland's most important export market.
According to Michal Slawski, Development and Marketing Specialist, Bord Bia, "Both the UK and Irish mushroom markets are showing steady growth, both in volume and in value. The UK market in particular is performing very well compared to the vegetable category as a whole. Mushrooms are growing in both value and volume, while vegetables are growing in volume but declining in price." He added, "The €2.7 million three year EU co-sponsored mushroom promotion in the UK and Ireland helps play its part by increasing sales in the target audience. The number of UK households buying mushrooms has increased by 600,000 and the proportion of households aged under 34 who buy mushrooms has increased by one third (Source: Kantar Worldpanel), during the three years of the More to Mushrooms, and the following first two years of the Just add Mushrooms campaign"
In the first session Helen Grogan (Teagasc) and Mairead Kilpatrick (AFBI) updated the industry on key research messages from MushTV, Tim Dolden from Loritus discussed Biocoal from Spent Mushroom Substrate and Production Management Software was covered by Hazel Codd, Codd Mushrooms. In the second session, Gerry Walsh, Teagasc (Retired) spoke about 40 years of Irish mushrooms, Brendan Burns, Sylvan looked at Growing Systems Abroad, Michal Slawski, Bord Bia covered Food Innovation and a short Market Review and Stephen Allen, Monaghan Mushrooms spoke about "3 Ways To Get People to Eat More Mushrooms"
A trade show featured 32 exhibitors showcased the latest equipment, machinery, renewable energy technology, packaging and supplies and growing facilities.
The organising committee for this years' event included representatives from AHDB, AFBI, Bord Bia, CMP, DAFM, DARD, the IFA, Monaghan Mushrooms, Northway Mushrooms, Sylvan, Teagasc, and Walsh Mushrooms.
Summary discussions
Key Research Messages from MushTV
MushTV saw a network of 18 compost producers, grower associations, businesses and research organisations from across Ireland, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, working together to tackle real industry concerns and find practical ‘solutions for the mushroom industry to threats from Trichoderma and Virus'. In numerous knowledge transfer events across Europe earlier this year, the significant research results of this work were discussed in detail. In this talk, Helen Grogan, Teagasc and Mairéad Kilpatrick, AFBI, distil the results of the research into key messages for composters and growers to maximise practical adoption by the Industry.
Biocoal from Spent Mushroom Substrate
Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) is the Earth's process to recover carbon and convert organic material into new plant life, nutrient rich soil, peat, and coal. HTC material recovery uses the same principles of heat and pressure in a water based environment to turn any organic matter, into a carbon neutral biofuel, carbon sequestering biochar, or healthy engineered soil. Because HTC processing is agnostic to organic composition and its moisture content, it is a very efficient self-sufficient recovery process for Spent Mushroom Substrate, along with other unwanted agricultural and waste material streams.
Tim Dolden from Loritus International, working in collaboration with Golden Mushrooms and CMP, will outline an EU grant enabled project to install and operate a large scale HTC system as an integral component within Golden's mushroom production. This project aims to demonstrate higher rates of efficiency, environmental impact, and profitability.
Production Management Software
With expansion over the last seven years Codd Mushrooms in Tullow, Co Wicklow now comprises 38 mushroom growing rooms with a staff of 225. As you can imagine, managing such a large production unit and workforce has its own unique set of challenges. In her talk, Hazel Codd will outline how the farm has used, reviewed and updated production management tools – PDAs and Tablets - to make the job just that bit more manageable. These examples of information technology and innovation in practice are definitely key to efficient production management.
45 years of Irish mushrooms 1970 - 2015
After a "lifetime" in the Mushroom Industry in Ireland, Gerry Walsh, Teagasc now retired returns to give his own inimitable view of 45 years of Irish Mushrooms 1970 to 2015. From production in the old wooden fish boxes of the 70s through the first tentative bulk peak heats in Ireland, to the origin of the bag system, its rapid expansion in the 1980s and 1990s and crisis in 2002, right through to the current modern technologically advanced Industry we know today. This is a journey not to be missed!
Growing Systems Abroad
What more appropriate way to follow a trip down memory lane than to indulge in a little horizon scanning abroad? Brendan Burns, Sylvan casts his eye further afield to outline the four main mushroom production systems and their different technologies from all around the world. Innovative systems include: Phase 4, single tier picking lines, under bed cooling and heating and the pros and cons of each, relative to construction and production costs. He also offers us a glimpse at a recently constructed farm in China that uses 1500 t Phase 3 per week - aiming to grow 500 t mushrooms per week!
Food Innovation and Market Review
Innovation can benefit food companies by helping them adapt to changes and to stay relevant to consumers. The starting point for innovation needs to be the final customer, the consumer. The Consumer Lifestyle Trends programme identifies the biggest trends shaping people's lives over the next 3 to 5 years. By keeping up with trends and understanding what's coming next, the programme helps companies and producers within the food & drink industry to better prepare for the future needs and wants of their consumers. In this 2015 update, Michal Slawski, Bord Bia, takes a fresh look at the big forces at play in the world, and broad shifts in consumer attitudes, values and behaviours in Ireland and the UK, and explores how these developments are driving trends in consumers' lives.
Once the trends are identified and understood, the implications for the food and drink industry in Ireland and the UK can be considered, and the opportunities that might exist for business's can be established. He will also include an update on the Just Add Mushrooms campaign that continues to deliver sales for producers in particular in the UK.
"3 Ways To Get People to Eat More Mushrooms"
Stephen Allen, Head of Marketing, joined Monaghan Mushrooms in 2007 and is responsible for the company's marketing activities across all its markets. In his talk, he outlined three ways that all those involved in our industry can help achieve what we all want and that is to get people to eat more mushrooms. He further outlined WHY consumers buy and eat mushrooms and HOW they prepare them and cook them.