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. It...

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 genetically d...

Dr Jenny Ekman reads the storing chemicals safely article from the 3rd Issue (Summer 2022) of the MushroomLink magazine. Read the article hereRead 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" by Qurtis...

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 articleClick 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 is "Mush...

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 hopes ...

Erik de Groot - Consultant Mushroom BusinessFollowing 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 diff...

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 mushroom ma...

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 differences ...

Tom Peeters GTL EuropeRecently 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 Mushroom le...

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 pickin...

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 indu...

Dr Ralph NobleRockwool, 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, by 2030, ...

Folkert Moll, Kekkilä-BVBAs 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 industry ...

Jack Lemmen, GTL, The NetherlandsWhile 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 GTL outl...

Roland van Doremaele, Christiaens, The NetherlandsRobotic 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 making the...

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 pro...

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?In episode 2 of the series, Patrick and Clare cite examples of types of issues specific to the mushroom industry, including product relates risks (that can impact food safety) and people related risks (e.g., seasonal work force related issues, industry ‘cowboys’ or disgruntled employees). The H...

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?In a new three-part podcast series Keep Calm and Carry On, reputation and communication expert Patrick McClelland of Porter Novelli Australia and fresh produce industry expert Clare Hamilton-Bate discuss the key issues in protecting the reputation of the Australian mushroom industry and brand. ...