SMC
The growing rooms of Champignonkwekerij Gemert, as seen from and connected with the new upcycling facility.
sector is shrinking. Surviving that threat is no easy task, but this company looks beyond simply surviving and thinks ahead. This is a successful venture, and we all benefit!” The Minister thinks this is in part due to the innovative spirit prevalent in the province of Brabant. “Economic growth figures in Brabant exceed the national average, and a quarter of the top hundred innovative companies are located in this province. Brabanders are inventive ‘tinkerers’ and cooperate well.” The goals of Upcycling Gemert match the goals of the government in its endeavour to generate more renewable energy and create a circular economy. “We are happy to financially support this initiative so it can become an independent, profitable process.”
Ticking the boxes
After a speech from the acting Mayor of Gemert-Bakel, René van Diessen, about the contribution made by Upcycling Gemert towards sustainable rural development (‘farmers are the solution, not the problem’), Ronald Verberne, managing director of Ingenia Consultants and Engineers spoke. He emphasised the immense potential of the Upcycling process to save energy and reduce the CO2 footprint, as well as cutting some 50% on transport costs.
The three concrete bunkers where the magic happens. The building is situated just beside the road, expressing ‘a wish to be as transparent to the public as possible’.
Hans van den Boom (no family), sector manager Sustainable Energy at Rabobank Nederland named four factors that sustainable innovation in usage of biomass must comply with in order to be viable: sufficient availability of the basic raw material (spent mushroom compost in this case), reliable and upscalable technology, balanced costs and use of residual energy and, finally, demand for the end product. “Van den Boomen ticks all these boxes”, said van den Boom. Ivo Ploegsma from Foodtech Brainport and Biobased, a platform comprising 12 organisati- ons that support this type of project, and Elise Lemkes, director of agricultural and horticultural branch representative ZLTO, then briefly outlined the role they want to and can fulfil in finding robust, sustainable solutions.
Huge interest
A natural biofilter is nothing new in western Europe, where compost odour regu lations are strict, but I hadn’t seen this built on a roof yet!
16 MUSHROOM BUSINESS
By pressing a red button outside, Minister Kamp officially opened the new installation. The guests and gathered press then had a guided tour of the facility and enjoyed drinks and bites at the farm. According to Pieter, huge interest is being shown in this – as far as he knows – unique process worldwide. “There have even been enquiries from China.” Watch this space, we are bound to hear more from this family.
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