From Farm to Frying pan: Best practice in mushroom supply chains
The best marketing in the world won’t sell mushrooms that are soft and bruised. Cold temperatures, careful handling and short timeframes are key to getting good quality mushrooms onto retail shelves.
However, questions remain. For example, why do mushrooms bruise so easily? What can we do to reduce bruising? How cold do mushrooms really need to be and what’s the most efficient way to keep them that way?
Join Dr Jenny Ekman and her team for the answers to these questions and more as they present the new Postharvest Best Practice guide for mushrooms.
Developed through the MU22011 Mushroom supply chain best management project, printed copies will be available to all industry members. Click here and fill in the request form to receive a copy of the guide. More than one copy can be requested.
Missed part one? You can watch the webinar recording here and learn about the results from the MU22011 project, including how far some mushrooms travel, temperature changes during transport, and how displays can impact shelf life.
Results from the mushroom supply chain best management project
Join the MushroomLink team as we speak with Dr Jenny Ekman from the MU22011 Mushroom supply chain best management project. In this two part webinar Jenny will discuss the results from this levy funded project.
Part 2 of the series will be presented on Wednesday 3 July where the postharvest best practice guide will be presented. Click here to find out more.
Cost of living, consumer behaviour and the implications for the mushroom category
Hort Innovation's Consumer Insights Manager Wendy Hubbard speaks on the cost of living, mushroom category performance, consumer behaviour and the implications for the mushroom industry.
Wendy is a seasoned insights professional with over two decades of experience in the consumer insights industry. Her expertise lies in identifying opportunities and challenges using multiple data sets and transforming these insights into compelling narratives that drive business growth.
She is currently the Insights Manager at Hort Innovation, where she manages consumer insights initiatives for the Australian horticulture industry.
Investigating non-synthetic ‘biorationals’ for pest and disease control
Disclaimer: This webinar contains mention of some products which are not registered with the APVMA, have not all been tested for use in mushrooms and therefore may not be suitable for mushroom growing. The information presented is for educational purposes only.
Dr Aimee McKinnon (Agriculture Victoria) is a research scientist leading the Hort Innovation funded project MU22000: Non-synthetic alternatives to complement pest and disease management practices in mushrooms.
The objective of the research is to review and evaluate available and potential biorational agents and formulations for their potential to control key pests and diseases of commercial mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).
In this webinar, Aimee first outlined what biorational agents are, discussed what options are available in Australia, and presented how the experimental research is being conducted to assess novel biorationals for efficacy and compatibility with mushroom growing.
Aimee has expertise working with insect pathogens and with beneficial soil microorganisms for plant health. She has experience in developing molecular diagnostic methods and in biological control of insect pests for IPM.
This webinar was made possible through the Hort Innovation project MU20003: Mushroom industry communications program. It has been funded through the Mushroom research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.
Other Resources
Webinar recording: MU21006 - Recycling spent mushroom substrate (SMS) for fertiliser in a circular economy
Join the MushroomLink team as we hear about the investigation into spent mushroom substrate and how it could be returned back to grain growers as a value-added fertiliser product.
Speakers include:
Dr Kevin Wilkinson, composting specialist, Frontier Ag & Environment (project leader)
Dr Cassandra Schefe, soil scientist, AgriSci Pty Ltd
Mr David Hawkey, agronomist, AgriSci Pty Ltd
Topics covered in the webinar include:
What a circular economy for SMS might look like
Various forms of value-adding including dewatering, palletisation, nutrient enrichment and emerging waste processing technologies
Some of the technical challenges associated with these processes
Economic and logistical challenges
SMS physicochemical characterisation
Supply chain mapping of wheat production (i.e., straw supplies) in relation to mushroom production
The webinar concluded with an open discussion on the next steps - particularly with respect to SMS-fertiliser product development and possible agronomic field trials, with input from participants.
Additional resources
Contact and MU21006 feedback requested
Please provide your feedback to Kevin, David and Cassandra on where you think future work on SMS recycling should be directed:
a) pelletisation of SMS and demonstration to grain growers
b) economic modelling of SMS biofertiliser products using case studies
c) field trials in grain production and/or vegetable production
d) deep-dive into the economics of value-adding to SMS (cost:benefit)
e) market research into biofertilisers
f) product development research
Kevin Wilkinson: kevin@frontieragenvironment.com.au
David Hawkey: david@agrisci.com.au
Cassandra Schefe: cassandra@agrisci.com.au
Webinar Recording: Food safety certification FAQs with Clare Hamilton-Bate
Confused about food safety certification? Bombarded with requirements that are not relevant to mushrooms? Worried about the auditor coming?
Food safety expert Clare Hamilton-Bate will launch our 2023 webinar series to answer all your FAQs and bust some common myths. There will also be an opportunity to ask Clare questions at the end of the webinar.
This webinar was produced as part of the MU21003: Mushroom industry communications program project. It is funded by Hort Innovation through the Mushroom levy and Australian Government contributions.
2022 AMGA Conference
The AMGA conference was a resounding success. The industry was able to gather for the first time in years to listen to a range of fantastic over the two days. MushroomLink has developed a podcast series and recordings of the R&D session to give those who were unable to come, and those who could use a refresher, a chance to hear great information from both international and local speakers. This Page will have a range of video presentations and podcasts from speakers at the conference.
Podcasts
Please note: The MushroomLink Podcast is hosted on most podcast hosting sites. Click here to find out where it is hosted or search “Mushroom Link” on your podcasting app of choice.
MushroomLink at the AMGA conference 2022: Jack Lemmen - Efficient harvesting systems part two
MushroomLink at the AMGA conference 2022: Folkert Moll - The future of Mushroom sustainability
MushroomLink at the AMGA conference 2022: Ralph Noble - Peat alternatives
Presentations
What's new in mushroom compost biology? - Dr Michael Kertesz
In this webinar, Dr Michael Kertesz (the University of Sydney) updated industry on the latest research into mushroom compost biology. Nitrogen, microbial communities and climate change are all on the agenda.
Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Centre and PCR Disease Testing - Dr Gordon Rogers (Applied Horticultural Research)
In this presentation Dr Gordon Rogers (Applied Horticultural Research) provided an update on the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Centre (MLMRC) and the PCR disease testing service, a service program that was developed from trials run at the centre.
Dr Rogers' presentation includes past achievements, new trials, potential future trials and how results will be communicated to the industry. He also covers the potential for a new site should the existing site become unavailable.
They also showcase the PCR mushroom disease identification service that is provided by AHR. This service has been a key outcome of the MLMRC. It was developed through the MU12007project (Development of a pilot mushroom farm disease monitoring scheme) and was run by the University of Sydney in collaboration with Applied Horticultural Research, AusDiagnostics, Dr Warwick Gill and Judy Allan.
Australian mushroom industry pest and disease update - Dr Warwick Gill (University of Tasmania)
In this presentation Dr Warwick Gill (University of Tasmania) provides an update on the pest and disease situation for the Australian mushroom industry. This includes new and emerging pests and diseases, the pest and disease watchlist, and how the industry should respond to diseases on their farms. Dr Gill also highlights the upcoming MU21007: Pest and disease management for the Australian mushroom industry project, giving an outline on how the project will function.
Food safety, quality and risk management and MushroomLink - Dr Jenny Ekman (Applied Horticultural Research)
Dr Jenny Ekman (Applied Horticultural Research) gives an update on the MU20000: Mushroom food safety extension and adoption project. Highlighting the need for strong food safety practices for the industry.
Dr Ekman also provided an update on the MU21003: Mushroom industry communications programme (MushroomLink) project. She covered what it is, who it targets, why its needed and how it is delivered.
AMGA farm tour at Pure Compost
AMGA farm tour at SA Mushrooms
Webinar Recording: MU20004 A scoping study to review fungi based global innovations
Click here to get a copy of the compendium
Click here to view the final report
Anita Stefoska-Needham led, in collaboration with AMGA, the project MU20004: "A scoping study to review fungi-based innovations to inform product development opportunities”.
In this webinar, Anita discussed the major output - a mushroom product compendium of over 180 products across 13 categories that can be used to inform the mushroom industry of the range and types of commercially available products globally, as well as to highlight the key food categories where mushroom innovation is most active, and by which major companies.
Anita shared some insights to inspire all Australian mushroom growers to consider which opportunities might be feasible for their businesses in the food innovation space.
About the presenter: Dr Anita Stefoska-Needham is a PhD-qualified, Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD), lecturer/researcher and inventor, with a particular interest in food packaging innovations and holds three granted patents. In addition to substantive experience in hospital-based clinical dietetics, Anita has experience in industry-led research and development, consulting, and teaching over a 25+ year span. Anita is considered a senior member of the dietetics profession, reflected in her appointment to the Council of the Nutrition Society of Australia, as well as to the Hearing and Assessment Panel of the 8000-member peak body, Dietitians Australia.
Anita is currently the Academic Program Director of the Bachelor of Nutrition Science degree at the University of Wollongong, teaching nutrition science and food innovation, and leading food and nutrition research.
Mushroom Production Waste Streams - Novel Approaches to Management and Value Creation
Dr Scott Needham, TGD Managing Director, acted as the project lead for the mushroom waste streams project and has over 25 years’ experience in performing and managing R&D and commercialising early stage scientific discoveries. During the past decade, Scott was Global Head of Investment Strategy for the US-based Intellectual Ventures’ Invention Development Fund (IDF), where he was responsible for a USD200m investment in early stage innovations.
Previously Head of Xinova Australia, a US-based innovation platform company that managed over 12,000 innovators, Scott believes in the power of utilising the best talent from around the world on projects. Scott has worked extensively for some of the worlds best known corporate clients including Fujitsu, Pepsico, AMEX, DuPont, Facebook and Mars Wrigley.
Kyle Kessler, TGD Manager, was the project manager for the mushroom waste streams project. His work blends quantitative and qualitative approaches to design technologies and businesses, and strategies that are desirable and financially viable to clients and their stakeholders.
Kyle has worked on innovation, stakeholder engagement, and agtech commercialisation projects across sectors and regions - including Hort Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia, Dairy Australia, CSIRO, United States Department of Defence and private sector clients in the fast moving consumer goods and mining sectors.
Details:
Teaming up with Hort Innovation and Australian mushroom growers, Scott and Kyle explored commercially viable approaches to utilising spent mushroom compost or edible mushroom waste either to reduce costs or increase revenue for mushroom growers in Australia.
Using trials, new business models, open-innovation and design thinking, they developed and tested new strategies for reducing waste, increasing revenue, and cutting costs for growers.
During this presentation, Scott and Kyle will summarise how, working hand-in-hand with mushroom growers, they unearthed new opportunities to increase the value of mushroom waste, including:
Eight potential solutions that were assessed against the business needs of mushrooms growers
Four recommended solutions for further investigation
How they collaborated to develop business models to better understand costs and revenue opportunities for potential solutions
Research into current and emerging technologies from around the world.
Managing COVID-19 related risks in mushroom businesses
We are all fed up with Covid-19 dominating our lives - the serious impacts of a deadly disease and the extreme difficulties of producing and selling a rapidly growing and fragile crop when the rules change daily, state borders can snap shut any time and a single positive case in the workplace can potentially cost a business thousands of dollars.
With vaccines, we can now see some light at the end of our 19-month-long tunnel. But, how can businesses manage this new landscape? What ‘carrots’ are most effective and what ‘sticks’ can legally be used?
Join us to learn how businesses can navigate this rapidly changing and challenging environment, minimising risk to both employee health and economic viability.
Rhys Ryan: Rhys is Managing Director of Porter Novelli Australia, and leads the firm’s work in helping clients build corporate reputation.
Following an early stint as a broadcast journalist, Rhys moved into strategic communications and has developed expertise in financial services, agribusiness, retail and primary production.
He has spent significant time in the United States over the past 20 years, where he led multi-country reputation programs for global corporations and technology start-ups in New York and San Francisco.
In recent years, Rhys has led campaigns and corporate reputation programs on behalf of including Dow Chemical, the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia, Mars, Bendigo Bank, PepsiCo, McCain Foods, Kimberly-Clark and various state and Commonwealth Government Departments.
Andrew Brooks: Andrew is an experienced employment lawyer and advisor to fast growth businesses, not-for-profits and agricultural clients of Law Squared.
Andrew is committed to helping employers and their management team deal with daily staff issues and complex legal problems as they arise during the employment life cycle: hiring, managing and firing. Andrew continues to work heavily in the agricultural sector and has been directly assisting clients navigate the world of COVID-19 vaccines in these workplaces.
The webinar is brought to you by the Mushroom industry crisis and reputation risk management project (MU20006) which is funded through the mushroom levy and contributions from the Australian government.
What's happening with mushrooms in China?
Join Dr Chen Liangcheng, from Sylvan International Biotechnology Co., Ltd. China division, to discover the answer.
It is said that the mushroom industry is divided between two worlds - China and the rest of the world. It is because the mushroom industry in China is unique in its size, history, research and development.
China is the largest producer and consumer of mushrooms in the world and, similar to the mushroom industry in the West, is undergoing a period of consolidation, with many new and modern farms emerging while traditional farms are receding.
The mushroom industry in China has involved many people from different backgrounds, and these people might begin to play a more important role in the international mushroom community.
There are many varieties of mushrooms in China that consumers have enjoyed for a long time and the way mushrooms are prepared and marketed in China will be interesting for us to discover in Dr Chen’s presentation.
Dr Chen Liangcheng
Born in Fujian, China, LC Chen started his mushroom career with Sylvan in 1996 as the representative to China, being responsible for developing the Chinese market and introducing western cultivation technology to China. He gained experience in the cultivation of button mushrooms, enoki and king oyster, among others.
Chen obtained his doctorate in agronomy, majoring in mushrooms, at Jilin Agricultural University under the guidance of Prof. Li Yu, an academician of engineering in China. He developed optimised cultivation conditions for Flammulina velutipes in bags and feed additives from mushrooms for enhancing animal immunity in his research.
Being in the mushroom industry for over 25 years, and knowing what is going on in the industry in both China and abroad, Chen has been invited to speak on the development of the Chinese mushroom industry at conferences around the world.
Currently, Chen works as the Deputy General Manager of Sylvan China, in charge of R&D as well as spawn production.
Mushrooms for healthy diets – what’s new with with nutritionist and dietitian Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore
Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore is a registered nutritionist, Accredited Practising Dietitian, board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional, and Honorary Associate of the University of Sydney. Flavia graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences and obtained both her Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and PhD in nutrition from the University of Sydney.
Since completing her PhD, Flavia has focused her research and advocacy work on nutritional epidemiology, micronutrients, and bioactives; she used her findings to promote a food-first approach to address public health’s biggest problems, including Vitamin D deficiency, anaemia, and chronic disease.
Flavia is passionate about improving the health of Australians, especially among children and adolescents, through research and its translation. She is a member of the Nutrition Society of Australia, the Dietitian’s Association of Australia, and is a founding board member and fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine.
The presentation includes:
Overview of medicinal use of mushrooms - for the immune system, as an antibiotic, in healing wounds and for mental health
Health effects in humans - what’s the evidence?
What is unique in mushrooms that’s relevant and what it means - Ergosterol (and vitamin D), Chitin (prebiotic fibre), Ergothioneine
Health effects with a focus on three - Vitamin D status, gut health and cancer
Where do mushrooms fit within current recommendations?
Spent mushroom compost as casing soil with Mohammad Mirzadeh
Mohammad Mirzadeh discusses his experience recycling spent compost for use in casing materials
Australian Mushroom Industry - Can nitrogen be better managed in compost production
Button mushrooms contain high levels of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, but are also an excellent source of protein. With 19 - 35% protein per gram of dry weight, they contain more protein than rice (7.3%), wheat (13 %) or milk (25%), and the high content of essential amino acids also means that button mushroom proteins are 90-98% as nutritious as most meat protein.
The nitrogen required to build these proteins comes from the compost, partly from raw materials such as manure, and partly from supplements added later in the process. The carbon:nitrogen ratio in the starting compost mix is usually set to between 30:1 and 35:1, which is optimal for growth of the microbes that convert the straw into productive compost, but only about 12-15% of this nitrogen finishes up in the mushroom crop that goes to market.
This webinar will discuss how nitrogen is transformed into mushroom protein during composting and cropping, where losses occur, and how changes in starting materials or composting processes might be used to increase compost productivity and the nutritional value of the mushroom crop.
Climate change and the Australian mushroom industry – risk, adaptation and opportunities
Climate change and its impact are back in the world debate. Although mushrooms would seem less affected by climate change than other crops – being protected from extremes of weather, the industry remains vulnerable to climate-related risks.
There are also climate-related opportunities to reduce costs and improve the environmental performance of the Australian mushroom industry. E.g., onsite energy generation, new growing substrates and water recycling. Adopting new technologies can reduce costs, sidestep production limitations, and enhance the industry's “green” image.
Join Dr Jenny Ekman, Liam Southam-Rogers and Adam Goldwater who will explain why what’s good for the environment, can also be good for your business when they summarise the outcomes of the levy funded project “Understanding and managing the impacts of climate change on Australian mushroom production”.
Reviewing the factors that improve mushroom whiteness
For mushrooms, whiteness signals quality. It may also be assumed to indicate storage life, flavour and freshness. Presenting clean, white mushrooms to consumers is a proven way to increase sales. Conversely, browning on mushrooms is definitely a negative. Browning may be due to disease, bruising, dehydration or simply age and senescence.
Project MU19005 has reviewed the factors that improve mushroom whiteness, from the time compost and casing are prepared through to harvest and packing. The result is a combination of strategies growers can use right now, techniques that are close to commercialising and advances to watch into the future.
Dr Jenny Ekman will summarise the results from this review and discuss some of the “Best Bets” growers can use to improve mushroom whiteness.
Recycled organics as an alternative to peat in mushroom casing
The Australian mushroom industry uses approximately 25,000 tonnes of peat casing every year. Mostly imported from Europe or Canada at a cost of $300 per tonne, peat is both an expensive and limited resource.
Compost made from recycled organics is locally available and cheaper than peat.
Join Adam Goldwater from Applied Horticultural Research for a webinar where he will present the results of the recent trials of commercially viable white mushroom crops cased with blends of composted recycled organics and peat.
This is a Waste Less Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.