PIECZARKALIA 2024
Promotion, harvest
automation and peat issues were hot topics at Pieczarkalia 2024.
highest in the world, as the Chinese consume 5 kg of mushrooms per capita annually according to the speaker. Almost every Chinese dish con- tains mushrooms. The spectrum and variety of mushroom growing facilities extends from small bamboo sheds to modern panel production facilities. Compared with other types of mushrooms, the white bottom mushroom is less popular as the main varieties consumed in China are shiitake and pleurotus. According to Vidmar, the reason behind this lower popularity may be the lack of traditional use and knowledge among Chinese consumers on how to use white bottom mushrooms in their cuisine. Vidmar also discussed some challenges. He compared the mushroom industry in China to a Ferrari - equipped with the newest technological innova- tions but with a driver unable to drive such a fast and technologically advanced car properly. Ano- ther challenge for Chinese growers is delivering the same value over a longer period. The yield is excellent as long as international advisors are present on the farm but deteriorates quickly when the consultant leaves. It might sound strange but there is also a labour shortage in China. In this country, there is a very common desire to quickly climb the social ladder. So peo- ple who used to work on mushroom farms are now moving to cities, forcing Chinese growers to recruit staff from other countries. Another challenge are the raw materials, especially those for producing compost and casing soil. 95% of the peat needed to produce casing soil comes from a region where the excavation period lasts for just four months a year as the rest of the time the bogs are frozen. This makes China dependent on imported peat from Ireland, Lithuania and the US.
Hygiene and sciarids Viruses and infections remain a significant challenge for mushroom growers worldwide, including in China. Helen Grogan (Teagasc) addressed these concerns by discussing the potential threats posed by viruses. She explained that Virus X, a complex of viruses, can appear in phase III but is very unlikely to appear in spawn. She emphasised the numerous sour- ces of infection, noting that infected mushrooms produce a large amount of infected inoculum, and the importance of maintaining scrupulous hygiene, steam cleaning and using easy-to-clean equipment. According to Grogan, it is worth being vigilant about external transport companies that might also introduce infections to a farm. In the next presentation mushroom growers and production managers attending the conference
44 MUSHROOM BUSINESS
could learn about disease prevention and bio- technological solutions for crop protection, particularly against sciarids. A representative from Koppert Polska, Ms Aleksandra Woźniak, presented various methods of applying nematodes to protect crops from these insects. The specially prepared nematodes can be applied both before and after casing soil is placed, offering protection and results com- parable to chemical treatments. These nemato- des are particularly effective against sciarids, which inhabit the upper part of compost and casing soil, as opposed to phorids that reside deeper in the compost.
Automated harvest solutions The next two presentations focused on advance- ments in robotisation and automation of mushroom picking. The first presentation, by Wim van Vugt (Christiaens Group), showcased their technical solutions. He highlighted their fully automated disc platform, where a robot, guided by data from an AI picking assistant, identifies the right size of mushrooms to be pic- ked. This system integrates seamlessly with the drawer system, facilitating easy logistics and the implementation of automated solutions. One challenge mentioned was ensuring mushrooms are placed neatly and precisely in the punnets to avoid bruising. Automation is a hot topic in modern mushroom production facilities, so the second presentation by Piotr Mańkowski from 4AG Robotics also addressed this. He explained the reasons behind developing their automated solution, primarily due to labour shortages in Canada and the high transport costs associated with bringing pickers to scattered farms. The visual capabilities of their robot surpass those of the human eye, allowing it to harvest more mushrooms (80 lbs per hour) of better quality in a shorter time, thereby maximising profits. Interestingly, the system can be personalised, enabling growers to set their own parameters for mushroom size. It is compatible with the Dutch shelving system, lightweight and easy to move between harves- ting areas.
Peat-free or not peat-free The final technical presentation, hosted by two representatives of Wokas - the R&D manager Kamila Kondera and sales director Mirosław Piekarski - addressed whether it is possible to produce casing soil without peat. With EU regulations expected by the end of 2030, there is a great urgency to develop alternatives. The availability of peat is decreasing due to environ- mental concerns and regulatory concessions,
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