Kieran Walsh CEO of Goldcircle Mushrooms in Monaghan featured on RTE radio news on the day that peat extraction from Irish bogs by Bord Na Mona was suspended. He voiced concerns for the ongoing supply of peat in Ireland going into the future - especially as peat in mushroom casing is the main medium for growing mushrooms in Ireland.
Bord na Mona said a formal decision to discontinue harvesting was taken due to the growing concerns over the burning of fossil fuels and its contribution to climate change. Kevin Mahon, a member of Growing Media Ireland, a grouping who represent the majority of horticultural growers in Ireland, was also interviewed. The group does not include mushroom growing, but Kevin did note that mushroom production is dependent on peat, and if the sector was required to import the heavy dark peat needed for mushroom casing - it would be a case that it would be cheaper to import mushrooms than to grow them here.
Lettuce, herbs and other plants use peat as a growing medium and the growers are represented by this group.
