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THE DUTCH NATIONAL MUSHROOM DAY 2014 Innovation takes centre stage
On 16 May, the Sikes mushroom farm in Ysselsteyn, the Netherlands, hosted the fifth edition of the Dutch National Mushroom Day. Several hundred Dutch, and a few Belgian, visitors registered to attend.
By Roel Dreve and John Peeters
The theme at this edition was ‘Innovation’. This sub- ject was particularly prominent in the short lectures given by Jan Gielen and Rien van der Maas. Innova- tion and sustainability were also the central topics at the fourth edition of the Mushroom Day in 2012. The successful combi-formula seen at the previous edition – a small-scale conference organised on a mushroom farm – was repeated, with the venue this year being the highly modern farm owned by the Sikes family. The proceedings were opened by Ko Hooymans, chairman of the mushroom group at horticultural organisation ZLTO, who complimented the Dutch mushroom sector with its efforts to increase sustaina- bility and cut costs. And that at a time when disap- pointing results stand in the way of funding innova- tive investments. Gerard Sikes also briefly welcomed the guests to his company.
Together in bed cooling Jan Gielen (DLV Plant Mushrooms) presented the initial findings of the ‘Together in bed cooling’ pro- ject, in which a network of Dutch mushroom growers, suppliers, researchers and consultants are working on higher production, shorter cropping cycles and energy savings through applying bed cooling. The initial results of the cropping cycles show that a higher filling weight (100 kg/m2) and 14-30 kg/ton of supplement yield mushrooms of a good, consis-
tent quality, a higher piece weight and an improved picking performance. The production per m2 is also higher than with a lower filling weight (70 kg/m2 and 14-30 kg/ton supplement). However, production per ton with a lower filling weight is higher (roughly 10-15%). A lower filling weight can still currently not be compensated for by adding more supplement. The WUR project Input-Output aims to deliver grea- ter insight into the nutritional needs of mushrooms. Other immediate advantages include direct compost control, gaining three days, less moisture loss and possibly energy savings. The long-term aim is to arrive at a matrix for optimal filling weight/supple- ment dose in relation to quality and yield. Gielen also briefly mentioned the demo project ‘Energetic Growers’, in which three farms are coope- rating and investing in sustainable energy solutions.
Phosphate extraction spent mushroom compost Rien van der Maas (PPO Randwijk/WUR) explained more about upgrading spent mushroom compost via phosphate extraction, a development motivated by the problematic, expensive removal of this product. Spent mushroom compost is a good soil improver, which means that potentially value can be created from this residual product. The goal is to develop a method of extracting phosphate (and nitrogen) from the spent compost, so it retains its value as a soil con- ditioner and insulator of pear rootstocks and can be used as a raw material in fertilisers. The condition is that this process is economically viable for all parties involved. In laboratory trails, 50% of the phosphate was extracted, but an extraction rate of 75% certainly seems to be feasible. The first results are promising; research is currently being done into process tech- niques and a pilot in a practical situation (Agrivalid) will probably be run this summer.
Visitors taking seats in the processing hall.
Fair Produce and fire safety Uli Schnier from Fair Produce was satisfied with the results booked by FP, whereby exploitation of labour in the Netherlands has been reduced, although he admitted that even with this ‘license to produce’ the sector still has some way to go. “Lots of attention is paid to cost saving in this sector, which is a good thing. But, focussing on cutting costs must not be at the expense of other aspects, such as labour con- ditions.” According to Schnier the sector should be looking actively, but on a small scale, for market con-
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