In relation to the discussion on the future of horticultural peat production in Ireland being discussed this month at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, there will be representations from the mushroom sector.
Reports indicate that representatives from the commercial mushroom growers sector will tell the committee that 35 per cent of all fresh mushrooms sold in the UK market come from the island of Ireland and the industry is worth €125 million. They will also say that Irish mushrooms are completely dependent on a “peat casing” for growth.
Members of the committee will hear that “despite extensive global research to date, no viable alternative to peat-based mushroom casing has been commercialised and without mushroom casing no mushrooms can be produced”.
Hopefully there will be more to report on this meeting of the committee in next month’s issue. Watch this space.
