using RNAi, but this technology is in its infancy. Sylvan has a collection of 789 worldwide wild Agaricus species, and DNA extraction techniques can identify molecu- lar markers from wild strains against a reference genome; this marker assisted selection process speeds up the breeding process by identifying strains with poten- tial marketable characteristics. Sylvan also has breeding programs for shiitake strains and a new sporeless Pleurotus strain. The presentation demonstrated that strain development is a painstaking and expen- sive process.
Automation Stéphane Doutriaux, MycoSense CEO, charted his harvesting automation jour- ney, from his early attempts with grippers and robotic arms to landing on his Spot- light Harvesting Intelligence system. He asked the question “Can a real mushroom bed be picked through automation?” His opinion is that at this point in time robots are not even close to matching the innate ability of a human to harvest mushrooms. The technology that MycoSense has inves- ted in is a bridge to the future on older farms, requiring no major infrastructure and is simple to use. The spotlight assists the harvester by projecting green dots onto the mushrooms to be picked, blue dots the ones to be removed from clusters and red dots on the mushrooms to leave. The sys- tem can improve the harvesting rate of an average picker and for faster pickers redu- ces fatigue. The Spotlight system is ideal for training new pickers, and with the use of AI software the system can provide real time picking data, yields, and individual pick rates. Growers can input the size of mushrooms to be picked, and the system accommodates the need for flexibility in day to day harvesting planning; develop- ments are in hand to permit the system to automatically determine the optimum harvesting strategy to maximize produc- tion. For graze picking the Spotlight can be linked to automatically drive the picking trolley along the shelf. Delegates in Auckland showed a lot of interest in this technology. Next speaker in the automation space was Sean O’Connor, 4AG Robotics CEO. The company is developing robots which pick, trim and pack mushrooms. Employing 68 employees and raising $17.5 M in 2023, they are now on Robot Version 4. Sean admitted that building robots to pick mushrooms is hard. Version 3 was incon-
picking would happen, whilst Ruud and Stéphane thought that was unlikely.
Christiaens and 4AG
think robotic picking will happen, GTL and MycoSense doubt that.
sistent at thinning and had too much downtime, but managed to achieve a pick rate of 25 Kg/hr working 24/7. Version 4 has achieved a pick rate of 40 Kg/hr wor- king 24/7 and was being trialed on a Cana- dian farm in January 2024. Sean is looking for further farms to trial his machines and is confident that A.I. will improve robot performance into the future. Roland van Doremaele (Christiaens Group) and Ruud Keunen (GTL Europe), joined Sean and Stéphane to answer questions posed by moderator Brian BackHouse (Costa), and from the floor. The discussion explored issues related to tilting shelves, the drawer system, blue belts, robotics for packing. In regard to robotic picking, Roland and Sean’s opinion was that robotic
Peat and casing Dr. Eoghan Corbett from Teagasc gave a detailed presentation on his part of the journey to develop peat alternative growth media for the Irish horticultural sector, the Beyond Peat initiative, and in particular mushroom casing. The important aspect of casing alternatives relates to how their hydrological behavior effects mushroom yield and quality. Mushroom Business has published on this work before. Corbett was joined by Ray Samp, Hans Nendels (Kekkilä BVB), Ronald Vermunt (Legro), Jackie Gray (TNZ Growing Pro- ducts), Jody Williston (Theriault and Hachey Peat Moss) and moderator Geoff Martin at the Future of Casing Alternatives Q&A Session. There was some very robust passionate discussion amongst the pane- lists, with some diverse views and opinions being expressed about this very important issue, also featured at conferences in the US, Germany and Poland this year. The panel fielded questions on sustainability, regulatory pressures, consumer sentiment, environmental over-reach, wood-fibre blends, whether there was an issue at all, the different approaches between Canada and Europe, Monaghan Mushroom’s sup- plying peat free mushrooms to Sainsbury’s
The Dutch suppliers were, as always, well represented in Auckland. Here, they are joined by one Polish guy. From left to right: Dave Hoving (Hoving Holland), Michał Kustusch (Growtime), Eric Vernooij (ChampFood), Hans Nendels (Kekkilä-BVB), Roland van Doremaele (Christiaens Group), Ruud Keunen (GTL Europe), Bjorn Beurskens (Mertens) and Luc Baltussen (ChampFood).
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