In this episode, Meghann Thai and Umberto Calvo reflect on their recent trip to Pennsylvania, where they attended the Penn State University Mushroom Short Course, visited the Mushroom Research Centre, and toured ten local mushroom farms. They share insights into how the US are approaching innovation, sustainability, and research, and how these practices compare to the Australian industry. From composting techniques to casing materials, peat use, and local regulations, Meghann and Umbert...
In this podcast we follow Umberto Calvo on his trip to the US where he visits Sher-Rockee Mushroom Farms in Pennsylvania to speak with mushroom grower James Ciarrocchi. Their conversation dives into the important intersection of science, sustainability, and innovation, drawing comparisons between US and Australian mushroom farming practices. James shares positive insights into how the farm is tackling fly control through collaboration with Penn State University, under the guidance of P...
In this MushroomLink podcast, Stuart discusses the strategic use of drip irrigation with AHR’s own mushroom grower Umberto Calvo. Umberto has conducted trials with a similar system at the March Lawson Mushroom Research Unit. With the potential to improve later flushes and even create nutritionally enhanced mushrooms, our panel discuss the mixed challenges and solutions offered by drip irrigation for mushrooms. Podcast hosted by Dr Jenny Ekman, AHR. Stuart Whitehall from Nutrigain has been wor...
Aimee is a research scientist for Agriculture Victoria in the Microbial Sciences, Pests, and Diseases (MSPD) group. With expertise in microbial-based biopesticides (biorationals) for use in integrated pest and disease management (IPDM), Aimee’s research focuses on understanding how microbial agents work to control insect pests and pathogens when applied to growing systems, with the broader aim to determine synergistic management practices, and to optimise the delivery of biological control ag...
In this podcast recorded at the 2024 ISMS congress, Dr Jenny Ekman chats to Eoin O'Connor, post-doctoral scholar at Penn State University, about his studies in Ireland, where he was inspired and mentored by Dr. David Fitzpatrick and Dr Helen Grogan, the latter of whom opened his world to mushroom science, and particularly virus X, and his current research in the Hockett lab. This podcast is part of the Hort Innovation funded project MU21003: Mushroom industry communications programme. I...
In this podcast Dr Jenny Ekman chats to Dr Mark Loftus from Sylvan Spawn company. Mark’s career commenced in Manchester, UK, where he obtained a PhD and then completed a two-year post doc in human genetics. So how did Mark go from human to mushroom geneticist? What is mushroom genetics anyway, and how can understanding mushroom genetics help strengthen the industry? In this fascinating discussion, Mark explains the very hard work behind identifying mushroom markers, isolating genetic...
Dr Jenny Ekman reads the article: Phorid ecology and management, from the 5th issue (winter 2023) of the MushroomLink magazine. Click here to read the article Click here to read the entire 5th issue. This podcast is part of the Hort Innovation funded project MU21003: Mushroom industry communications programme. It was funded through the Mushroom levy fund and contributions from the Australian Government. Link to the website: https://www.mushroomlink.com.au/ The music for this podcast...
Dr Jenny Ekman reads the storing chemicals safely article from the 3rd Issue (Summer 2022) of the MushroomLink magazine. Read the article here Read the entire 3rd Issue here This podcast is part of the Hort Innovation funded project MU21003: Mushroom industry communications programme. It was funded through the Mushroom levy fund and contributions from the Australian Government. Link to the website: https://www.mushroomlink.com.au/ The music for this podcast is "Mushroom Boy" ...
In this episode, MushroomLink’s Dr Jenny Ekman chats with Dr Emma Beckett about the Hort Innovation project MU22006, Online resource for mushroom health & nutrition science for healthcare professionals. Emma and the team at FoodIQ Global (Formerly Nutrition Research Australia – NRAUS) are creating the ‘go to place’ for credible and authoritative information on the health benefits of mushrooms. By showcasing the unique health benefits of mushrooms to health professionals, the project hope...
Erik de Groot - Consultant Mushroom Business Following his recent trip to Australia, where he delivered training workshops to local growers, Erik de Groot took some time to chat with MushroomLink’s Dr Jenny Ekman. From a childhood spent in a small village of only 4000 people (but with 15 mushroom farms!) – to becoming a sought-after global mushroom consultant working everywhere from Dubai to China, Europe, Australia, South America and the US – Erik has unique insights into how the industry d...
Geoff Price Giorgi Mushroom Company. Geoff Price may be the son of our own mushroom-growing legend Graham Price, but he has definitely forged his own way in the industry. A mushroom grower since he was eight years old, perhaps it is not surprising he’s now not only technical director of Giorgi Mushroom Company in Pennsylvania, but also chair of the American Mushroom Institute. Interview by Dr Jenny Ekman In part two, Jenny and Geoff pests and diseases, food safety and American mushroo...
Geoff Price Giorgi Mushroom Company. Geoff Price may be the son of our own mushroom-growing legend Graham Price, but he has definitely forged his own way in the industry. A mushroom grower since he was eight years old, perhaps it is not surprising he’s now not only technical director of Giorgi Mushroom Company in Pennsylvania, but also chair of the American Mushroom Institute. Interview by Dr Jenny Ekman In part one Jenny and Geoff talk about growing up in the Hawkesbury, the differen...
Tom Peeters GTL Europe Recently Dr Jenny Ekman visited the Netherlands where she spoke with GTL Europe's Tom Peeters. Tom and Jenny talk about a new mushroom farm in the Netherlands and how new technology has been implemented. They discuss tilting shelves and transferable shelves and future-proofing packing to be consistent with new robotics. This podcast is part of the Hort Innovation funded project MU21003: Mushroom industry communications programme. It was funded through the Mushro...
Canadian company Mycionics Inc has combined AI with robotics in a challenging horticultural setting which could revolutionise the future of mushroom farming. Looking for a solution to Canada’s workforce shortage, grower Murray Good took his frustrations to the University of Western Ontario in 2012. Two research theses and a decade of hard work later, Mycioncs Inc has emerged as a fresh mushroom picking and packing system that combines mechanical engineering, robotics, and mushroom picki...
CSIRO researcher Dr Damien Belobrajdic and nutritionist Dr Falvia Fayet-Moore (NRAUS) are each advancing the case of mushrooms as a super food through research and advocacy. We know mushrooms are healthy, but to inspire and promote their wider use in the food industry, evidence is required. Australian research is providing this evidence by showing that the mechanisms by which mushrooms help lower cholesterol is akin to that of oats. But how can this help boost the Australian mushroom ...
Dr Ralph Noble Rockwool, clay minerals, coal tailings, coconut coir, green wastes. There is a long list of potential peat alternatives, but how realistic are they in replacing peat in a commercial mushroom farm and what are the challenges? If anyone can help us navigate this new era of sustainable casings it is Dr Ralph Noble. Dr Noble has been researching peat alternatives in the UK for a number of years and has a clear idea about what works and what doesn’t. He is also confident that, b...
Folkert Moll, Kekkilä-BVB As the pressure to move away from peat mining grows, coupled with other global supply chain pressures, alternative sources of casing substrates is the key issue for the sustainable future of the mushroom industry. Despite these pressing challenges, Folkert Moll from Kekkilä-BVB in the Netherlands believes that the future is bright. With heavy research investment into peat alternatives, and commitment to the rehabilitation of peat ecosystems, the horticultural indus...
Jack Lemmen, GTL, The Netherlands While many aspects of mushroom production have been mechanised, with computer-controlled compost production, bulk phase 3 compost, automatic casers and fillers, and many other technical aids, harvesting and packaging is still mostly a manual process. With many growers in Australia struggling with labour costs and shortages, any technical help to optimise harvesting and packaging is met with great interest. At the recent AMGA conference, Jack Lemmen from GT...
Roland van Doremaele, Christiaens, The Netherlands Robotic harvesting in mushrooms has been in development for decades, with earlier harvesters having limited success. The drawer system from the Christiaens Group in The Netherlands is a fully integrated approach to growing, harvesting, and packing mushrooms. In this system, the shelves move between growing and harvesting rooms, which has positive implications for pest and disease management, as well as improving harvest efficiency and maki...
In a complicated and diverse media landscape, where everyone, everywhere can share information, how can you keep control of the story, particularly one that may be damaging to your brand and reputation? Analysing the ‘needle in strawberries’ crisis concludes the series, with special guest Rachel Mackenzie (now executive director of Berries Australia, formerly of Growcom) sharing her valuable insights into what the mushroom industry can learn from this experience. The Hort Innovation funded...