AUSTRALIAN-MUSHROOMS-JOURNAL-2021-EDITION-4

MUSHR MS
JOURNAL

CONTENTS

Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chairman’s Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Relationship & General Manager’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Communications Manager Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Mushroom Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Empowering Health Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Impact Of Dust On Disease Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Organic Material A ects Foot Dip E cacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Biological Product To Suppress Green Mould. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Australian Mushroom Industry Virus Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Delivering Consistent Mushrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Putting Nitrogen In Mushroom Compost: Time For A Change? . . . . . 34
The Simple Beauty Of Microbial Interactions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Essential Oils A Potential Solution To Control Mushroom Flies? . . . . 40
Marsh Lawson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Hort Innovation Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
AMGA: Meet The Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Information Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Industry Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Front Cover: Mushroom & Beef Tacos
https://australianmushrooms.com.au/recipe/mushroom-beef-tacos/

Inside Cover: Garlic Balsamic Mushroom Bowl
https://australianmushrooms.com.au/recipe/garlic-mushroom-

balsamic-mushroom-bowl/

The Australian Mushrooms Journal is produced as part of the Mushroom Industry
Communication program (MU18001). This project has been funded by Hort
Innovation, using the mushroom research and development levy and contributions
from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower owned, not-for-
pro t research and development corporation for Australian horticulture | Editorial:
Chris Rowley, Editor - 04 1514 0253 | Judy Allan, Editorial Consultant - (02) 6767 1057 |
Publication Dates: March / June / September / December | Copy Deadline: Six weeks prior to
the cover date | Subscriptions: The Journal is available to levy payers and others involved in
the Australian Industry. The Journal is distributed in electronic and print formats. Requests
to be included on the distribution list should be directed to the Editor | Letters to the Editor:
Letters to the Editor from readers on subjects of interest to the mushroom industry
are welcomed and encouraged. All contributions should be emailed to the Editor (chris.
[email protected]) | Editorial Policy: The opinions expressed by contributors and
advertisers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Hort Innovation. No
responsibility will be accepted for any statements made or views expressed in this journal,
or for any advertisements included. Hort Innovation reserves the right to edit, rewrite,
withhold or reject any or all material whether it be editorial, advertising copy or advertorial. If
editorial changes are made, the Editor will contact the author before publication for approval.
Manuscripts, correspondence, change of address requests should be sent to the Editor for
consideration. All material is copyright to Hort Innovation. Articles in their entirety many
not be reproduced in any other publications without written permission of Hort Innovation.

AMGA Contact | Phone: (02) 4577 6877 / Mail: P.O. Box 576 Crows Nest NSW 1585

4 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

EDITORIAL

Editor, Australian Mushrooms Journal A report is also ies. There are also two stories on
included on the levy-funded projects looking at nitrogen
0415 140 253 wide range of Hort in compost and the beauty of microbial
Innovation marketing interactions.
[email protected] activities, scheduled
to be delivered over As usual, there is plenty to read, and if
It is the end of another year, and as the summer period, you have any feedback on the articles or
they say in the classics, “what a year it with details on would like to make some suggestions for
has been”. But COVID or no COVID, the activities conducted future editions, please let me know.
show must go on, so I have prepared since the last edition
another bumper issue, with plenty of of this Journal.
good reading to go along with all that
Christmas cheer. Starting on Page 14
is a range of pest
As usual, the AMGA has been busy and disease-related
representing industry interests across a stories from the
range of topics. I would encourage every MU16003 project
reader to take the time to understand team, including one
the activities and stay up to date with on the virus survey to
the work of the Association undertaken commence this month.
to progress the industry. The survey is all about determining the
extent of any issues, and its success
Of particular note to those interested relies on industry involvement, so it is
in marketing is the launch of The Blend. essential that everyone understands
The AMGA Communications Manager the background to the activity being
Leah Bramich provides details on the undertaken.
three-month campaign and how it
will change the way for home cooks to And while the International Society of
incorporate mushrooms and mince into Mushroom Science e-congress moved
everyday meals. Plenty is happening online, I have taken the opportunity to
with the campaign, so get on board, write up some of the presentations. One
become a blenditarian and spread the story features the thoughts of Dr Kerry
news to your friends. Burton on mushroom quality, while
another is an interesting study from the
United States by Dr Michael Wol n on
an approach to controlling mushroom

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the mushroom research
and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 1

RCEHPAOIRRMTAN’S

Chairman, Australian Mushroom Growers’ I suspect that a fair mushroom industry. Worldwide, peat
Association proportion of crops will accounts for almost a third of total
be impacted by shooting carbon storage; so, it is understandable
0415 542 301 grain, so watch out for high that the environmental spotlight is well
nitrogen levels in straw and truly focussed on the extraction
[email protected] from a ected paddocks. industry and the use of peat as a fuel.
In addition, higher straw
I am writing this nal report for 2021, moisture contents will While in Europe, less than 20% of the
sitting at my kitchen table in Singleton require careful bale storage, total volume of peat mined is earmarked
while at the same time keeping a selection and rotation to for the horticultural industry, its use as
watchful eye on the level of the Hunter ensure this vital raw material a growing medium has been caught up
River, which has continued to rise lasts through to the next in the environmental push to leave this
overnight. season. natural carbon sink undisturbed.

The river, which wends its way between COVID VARIANT I have long advocated that, ultimately,
levees through the town, usually runs at environmental pressures would force
a depth of less than a metre; it is now at And, if the adverse rainfall and ooding the mushroom industry to investigate
the height of 12.71 metres, not far o the wasn’t su cient, nature has added alternatives or adjuncts to peat, and the
13- metre major ood mark. further to our burdens with the time is now right to direct some R&D
announcement of a more virulent COVID e orts in this direction.
This follows what has been described as variant, ‘Omicron’, emanating from
one of the top ten worst Novembers in Southern Africa. VIRUS IMPACT
Australian history, with many parts of
the country receiving three times the It remains to be seen if this variant will I would guess that only some of
normal monthly rainfall. derail the opening up of International the older mushroom cohort have
and State borders and once again impact experienced how devastating a virus
LA NINA IMPACT demand for mushrooms, especially in outbreak can be on a mushroom farm,
the foodservice sector, at a time when to the extent that farms have been so
On 23 November, the Bureau of sales are traditionally di cult over the overwhelmed they have had to stop
Meteorology ENSO (El-Nino Southern summer months. growing or even gone out of business.
Oscillation) outlook declared a La Nina
event with above-median rainfall for It is not surprising that even the most I have been involved in several La France
Eastern Australia through summer and resilient amongst us are starting to viral outbreaks during my career. One
autumn 2022. despair and beginning to wonder if on a very old run-down operation was
the situation will ever return to any
What was shaping up to be a bumper semblance of normality.
wheat season is turning into a disaster
for New South Wales farmers, with SHIPPING BACKLOG
many hectares underwater and
ground so saturated that harvesting is The shipping backlog a ecting the
impossible. supply of casing soil would seem to have
eased somewhat with the arrival of a
The wet conditions will impact the substantial number of containers during
availability and quality of wheaten November.
straw, adding to the challenges of
making a good, potentially high yielding However, the shipping cost remains high,
compost. and this situation is likely to continue
into the foreseeable future.

Reliance on the imported casing is
the Achilles’ heel of the Australian

2 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

so overwhelming that ultimately the in more detail on Page 28 in this edition BLENDITARIAN CAMPAIGN
decision had to be made to close the of the Australian Mushroom Journal. LAUNCHED
facility.
The intention is to try and determine Leah Bramich, our AMGA Communication
While outbreaks of Virus X have caused the extent of the problem, and farms Manager, has also been very busy with
havoc in Europe, especially on the early will be invited to send mushrooms for the launch of our Blenditarian campaign,
Phase 3 facilities in the 1990s, lessons virus testing free of charge; results will which focuses on the use of mushrooms
learned in terms of the design of Phase naturally be treated in the strictest as a partial replacement for meat.
2/3 facilities and an understanding of con dence. I would implore all growers
how virus particles can be spread in to avail themselves of this opportunity. With an increasing health focus on
infected mycelium have largely enabled reducing red meat consumption and the
the Australian industry to escape this WHAT DOES GOOD LOOK rise of the exitarian movement, let’s
scourge. LIKE? hope this initiative will drive sales in a
similar fashion to the very successful
However, recent reports of virus-like In the meantime, Martine Poulain and I The Blend campaign run by the United
symptoms have emerged, and a small continue to engage with Hort Innovation States Mushroom Council. More details
sample of mushrooms taken from in our attempts to extract the best are contained in Leah’s column on
supermarket shelves have been tested outcomes from the statutory levies for Page 5 in this edition of the Australian
and returned positive for Mushroom R&D and Marketing. Mushroom Journal.
Baciiiform Virus associated with La
France disease and AbV6, a precursor for Hort Innovation have engaged the MERRY CHRISTMAS
Virus X. services of a consultancy group Seftons,
under a program entitled, “What does Finally, it just remains for me to wish
This result is an early warning indicator good look like?” you all a very Merry Christmas and a
that the industry could be on the cusp of Happy New Year. I hope you are able
a viral outbreak. This has involved input from all to take a break during this time from
horticultural industries represented by the incessant demands of running
I know many farms have been struggling Hort Innovation on how the delivery your mushroom operations. Let’s hope
to employ su cient picking sta and of R&D and extension can be improved 2022 will bring some normality to our
that often crops have had to be left with more industry involvement. troubled world.
unpicked with mushrooms allowed to
open, increasing spore loads in rooms The recently appointed Hort Innovation All the Very Best!
and the potential for viral particles Joint Marketing General Managers, Kylie
to spread. Under such a situation, the Hudson and Jane Smith, are also working
maxim, “If in doubt, cook it out!” applies. to improve industry involvement in
this sphere with more emphasis on
This scenario is exactly why R&D levy driving retail sales, pivoting away from
funds are used to support the Pest and the previous heavy concentration on
Disease Project (MU16003), and the creating product awareness. It will be
Project Leaders Judy Allan and Warwick interesting to see how these initiatives
Gill have sprung into action, as described pan out.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 3

R&EGLMA’TSIORNESPHOIRPT

Relationship & General Manager, a father of ve! I have no receiving a large backlog of mushroom
Australian Mushroom Growers’ idea how he has time to peat containers, much to our relief and
Association do all that he does, but I the growers.
have so much respect for
0457 440 298 all our growers who work And nally, the AMGA will close on 23
[email protected] tirelessly in our industry. December and reopen, 10 January. The
AMSAFE line is always open, so if you
Hello industry members, My nal Queensland encounter any risk, please call.
farm visit was to SJW
Frustrated with the continuing border Mushrooms, located I hope you and your families enjoy a safe
closures across the country, I packed my outside Woodford. and festive holiday season, and my door
bags and visited our local Queensland- is always open - so please contact me
based growers this past month. Leah Bramich, the
AMGA communications FOOD SAFETY
GROWER VISITS manager, accompanied
me as we paid a visit to Got a question about mushroom
My rst stop was a visit to Fraser Coast Steve Willemse and his food safety? After some sta
Mushrooms - a relatively new farm, with wife, Jo. training?  Confused about test
owners Dave and Kim Hunt joining the results? The Mushroom Food Safety
AMGA last year. Nestled on Sunshine Coast Extension and Adoption project
acreage, with the mountain ranges as a (MU20000) is here to help. Call or
Located just outside Maryborough, the backdrop, the farm is impressive. email Dr Jenny Ekman (M: 0407 384
once-upon-a-time lime farm has been 285 E: [email protected])
resurrected as a successful mushroom A second-generation farmer, Steve has for a fully funded and con dential
business. always been supportive of the AMGA, consultation all things postharvest
and it was fantastic to catch up with and QA. Sta training available. 
With their clientele being very them both.
much local, they have cemented key
relationships with local grocers and Steve works tirelessly for the industry
restaurants. and is a former member of the SIAP.
His father Peter is also a life honorary
Their decision to move from limes member of the AMGA.
to mushrooms has paid o for this
charismatic couple. Kim and David AMGA OPERATIONS
feature in the Meet the Member story on
Page 48. Operationally the Association has been
very busy this last quarter. Our The
My day trip to catch up with Jarrod Blend campaign has launched, and if you
Baker from Townsville Mushrooms was don’t know what The Blend is, please
just as eventful. read Leah’s column on Page 5.

Surrounded by tall grass and the sounds The AMGA has also won the levy-
of summer, Jarrod’s farm is about 30 funded digitisation project, and we have
minutes out of the city, and he has been partnered with Applied Horticultural
growing mushrooms there for about ten Research and Bu e Tolson on the vital
years. task of ensuring our precious AMGA
history lives on digitally for generations.
This successful and busy farmer is also
Many of you have been concerned about
the peat shortage, but I’m pleased to
say that after some lengthy delays in
shipping, all Australian ports are nally

4 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

COMMUNICATIONS
MANAGER REPORT

Communications Manager, Australian THE BLEND • Educational email marketing
Mushroom Growers’ Association – CAMPAIGN journey.
OVERVIEW
0450 504 675 • Engagement competition mid-
The objective of the January for Summer Blended
[email protected] campaign is to educate Burgers to win a SmokeFire Weber
families and seniors barbecue, worth $2,500.
The AMGA have o cially launched about the mushroom
the Mushroom + Mince = The Blend in + mince blend and to • Possible Blended Burger menu
Australia, with a three-month campaign increase their purchase addition with meal kit providers
designed to promote the concept of intent for mushrooms. Marley Spoon and/or Dinnerly.
mixing mushrooms and mince. The The ultimate goal is
promotion is taking place over the for mushrooms to be THE BLEND - TARGET
summer period, a notoriously di cult considered a staple AUDIENCE
time to sell mushrooms. ingredient in all minced
meat dishes. The Hort Innovation funded Nielson
The $115,000 campaign is separate Comprehensive Review of Consumer
from the marketing initiatives of Hort The Blend consists of: Data for the mushroom industry
Innovation and is funded solely by the summarises mushroom buying
AMGA. The Blend is a brand awareness • Three-month campaign: 1 December consumers into three categories; Light,
campaign with the objective to launch 2021 to 28 February 2022. Medium and Heavy. The Blend will focus
the concept of mixing mushrooms with on two over-indexing demographics:
mince to Australian home cooks. • New website www.blenditarian.
com.au (with a similar look and feel
As you are aware, over the past to the American www.blenditarian.
decade, our American counterparts com).
at the Mushroom Council have had
great success with The Blend, and now • PR strategy with celebrity chef
reportedly allocate around 70% of their ambassador Adrian Richardson.
national marketing budget to the annual
campaign. The AMGA are optimistic that • Nutritional PR strategy with the
this success can be replicated – with AMGA Dietitian, Jane Freeman.
an Aussie twist, of course, to make
mushrooms a staple for the family • In-store promotion with an
grocery basket. independent greengrocer network.

• Competition incentive to sign-up
and win one of four Weber Premium
Family Q barbecues worth $799
each.

• Digital marketing strategy,
including social advertisings, Google
advertising and re-marketing.

Seniors – who make up Heavy Buyers
(30%), Medium Buyers (20%) and Light
Buyers (13%).

Families – Start-up to Bustling Families
make up Heavy Buyers (39%), Medium
Buyers and (30%) Light Buyers (20%).

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 5

Our target audience is Australian home- United States Blenditarian campaign is love to eat meat dishes, the AMGA
cooks; average to high income, Families focused mainly on burgers. have appointed celebrity chef Adrian
and Seniors who place importance on Richardson to help explain the concept.
providing healthier meals for their Here in Australia, things are done a
families. The Blend is not targeted at the little di erently. While American style Adrian is a TV cooking personality, and
mushroom lover but instead targeted burgers are becoming increasingly more star of Good Chef, Bad Chef, and former
at the meat-eater who wishes to boost popular, Australians don’t have the same cooking shows Secret Meat Business
the nutritional value of meals or those 2.5 burgers per week, per capita eating and Boys Weekend. He is also the owner
seeking ways to reduce the amount of habits. of La Luna Restaurant in Melbourne
meat they consume. According to Food and the author of Meat. Adrian has
Frontiers - Meat the Alternative Report, According to the Meat and Livestock built his career by cooking great meaty
the number of Australian meat-reducers Australia State of Industry Report 2020, dishes. His role as ambassador is to
or ‘ exitarians’ has grown exponentially, the average Australian eats 25kg of beef reassure audiences that cooking with a
with one in three (32%) Australians now a year, with 30% of it being minced. This mushroom and mince blend enhances
actively trying to reduce their meat is proof that our multicultural society the meaty avour while adding juiciness
consumption – with the main motivator loves their spaghetti Bolognese, taco to minced meat dishes.
being health. night or burgers on the barbecue in
summer – which is the focus for the Adrian is featured throughout the
Surprisingly, seniors are leading the Australian campaign launch. campaign within our website, social
way, with 43% of meat-reducers being media, and point-of-sale, and his
baby boomers. This aligns well with With beef mince recipes, in particular, celebrity will be used to unlock media
seniors being the heaviest mushroom considered an ‘easy everyday’ meal for and PR opportunities.
buyer demographic – as convincing preparing, The Blend provides a simple
mushroom lovers to add mushrooms way for families and seniors to achieve Adrian has also lmed six recipe and
to their spaghetti or meatloaf could be their health-related goals with a simple educational videos, which will be used
considered an ‘easy sell’, resulting in ingredient swap. The objective of the throughout the digital marketing
increased mushroom sales. campaign is to educate our target campaign.
audience about the mushroom + mince
The Nielson consumer report blend to increase their purchase intent PR & MEDIA WITH THE
also identi es Light Buyers as an for mushrooms, with the ultimate goal BLEND AMBASSADOR – JANE
opportunity. Currently, Light Buyers of mushrooms being considered as a FREEMAN
purchase mushrooms just eight times a staple ingredient in all minced meat
year on average. If Light Buyers bought dishes. The public relations strategy includes
mushrooms on just one more occasion, the AMGA Dietitian, Jane Freeman,
it would equate to $8.8M or a 741-tonne PR & MEDIA WITH THE BLEND delivering health and nutritional
opportunity for the industry. AMBASSADOR - ADRIAN education throughout The Blend
RICHARDSON campaign. The aim is for article
Encouraging Light Buyers to throw 500g inclusions in major news outlets, senior
of mushrooms into their spaghetti or As the target audience for The Blend newspapers, parental magazines, and
250g into their burger patties – even is Seniors and Families (Mum and health professional outlets.
just once to give it a try – could have Dad being the meal providers) who
an excellent result for the Australian
mushroom industry.

THE US VS AUSTRALIAN
BLENDITARIAN CAMPAIGN
APPROACH

There is no doubt there are signi cant
di erences between the eating habits
of consumers in the United States and
Australia. With Americans reportedly
eating 10 billion burgers a year, primarily
through quick-service restaurants and
institutional catering, no wonder the

6 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

DIGITAL MARKETING ‘A better choice!’
are contributing a
The Blend campaign strategy is focused digital strategy over
on education about the mushroom + the three-month
mince concept. To have an e ect on a campaign, including
national scale with a small budget, the dedicated emails and
marketing strategy is focused solely social posts for the
on PR and digital marketing. Once competition, a week-
consumers sign up for the competition, long mushroom
they will be taken on an educational recipe promotion,
journey with email marketing and weekly ‘Mushroom
retargeting through social media. Monday’ social
media posts and a
COMPETITIONS national colouring
competition for
As an incentive for consumers to children.
visit the website (to trigger the re-
marketing) and sign-up for the email THE BLEND
newsletters, a competition will be AND
held for four Weber Premium Family Q BLENDITARIAN
barbecues worth $799 each. Consumers – REGISTERED
are encouraged to enter via point of sale TRADEMARKS
within greengrocers and via social media
advertising. With permission
from the Mushroom
In January, a second competition will Council, the AMGA
be released, designed to engage new are in the process
followers on social media. Entrants of registering both
will be asked to create their blended The Blend and
burger recipe and post to their Blenditarian here in
social channels with the hashtag Australia to protect
#SummerBlendedBurger, for a chance to the wordmarks from
win a Weber SmokeFire barbecue worth being used by other fresh produce.
$2,500.
All AMGA mushroom grower members
Weber Australia has provided the prizes in Australia are encouraged to use the
to the AMGA for free in return for the wordmarks The Blend and Blenditarian
campaign exposure. on future product development and
link to the AMGA owned website. To
IN-STORE POINT OF SALE – apply for the rights to use the marks on
GREENGROCER NETWORK packaging, please contact the AMGA.

The AMGA has partnered with ‘A better THE BLEND IN FOODSERVICE
choice!’, the independent fresh produce
retail program for Fresh Markets The AMGA are currently in talks with
Australia. Marley Spoon and Dinnerly, hoping
to include a blended recipe on their
The program has over 550 seasonal menus. The Blend aligns very
independently owned greengrocer well with Marley Spoon’s plant-forward
members and is dedicated to supporting meal kit subscribers and Dinnerly’s
growers by promoting fresh produce. family meal o erings.

‘A better choice!’ supports the three- The Blend is also a consideration for
month Mushrooms + Mince = The Blend inclusion within the Hort Innovation
campaign by distributing point of sale project MU20003 - Educating the Food
within members stores in Queensland, Industry of the Nutritional Bene ts of
New South Wales, Victoria and South Mushrooms.
Australia. The materials, including
posters, entry pads and wobblers, will This project is managed by the AMGA,
be erected on the mushroom displays partnering with Nutrition Research
in-store. Australia. There are potentially great
opportunities for The Blend within a
‘A better choice!’ also have a dedicated high quantum of in uence catering
following of avid home cooks within organisations, which will have a positive
their active social media channels e ect on the Australian mushroom
(180k+) and email database (70k+), industry.
with who they communicate weekly.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 7

Marketing is all about reaching the right The recipes are simple and fresh, making
people at the right times with the right dining occasions easy and accessible,
messages. And then, importantly, have underlining key health and avour
them act on those messages and add messages and providing blended recipe
plenty of mushrooms to their shopping inspiration.
basket.
The multi-channel approach includes
Australian Mushrooms marketing radio, catch up television, retail media,
activities are designed to do just that, digital media, public relations activities
providing messages in numerous and social media channels. Over October
ways at di erent times to Australian and November, the activities undertaken
consumers. Over the past few months, reached 82% of total grocery buyers
many activities have built on the aged 25-54.
momentum achieved through the “Add
the Mighty Mushie” campaign. The RADIO
immediate focus has been on spring
and summer and nding ways to inspire Radio is one of the key media channels
consumers to include mushrooms in a for mushrooms, with Mighty Mushie
variety of meals. Mondays celebrated on the Southern
Cross Austereo Carrie and Tommy drive
To add to the impact, the campaign program in a burst running from 10
messages have been optimised and October to 13 November. In addition to
new photography and recipes created the radio advertisements, the approach
with a spring/summer feel. The focus of included in-show mentions, live reads
the promotional activity is on the truly and competitions, all designed to
unique superfood status and umami inspire listeners to create meals with
quality of mushrooms, highlighting mushrooms.
both health and avour to Australian
consumers. The rst burst of activity allowed

8 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Australian Mushrooms to reach over
1.5 million grocery buyers aged 25-54.
Overall, the activity reached 4.3 million
Australians, e ectively helping to keep
mushrooms top of mind at a time when
consumers are actively planning their
dinners.

A second burst has been scheduled to
run in late February 2022.

This Carrie and Tommy drive program
was chosen as it allows the mushroom
message to be carried in ve capital
cities and the top 24 regional markets in
Australia. Across the capital cities alone,
1,158 ads were played during this rst
phase of radio advertising.

CATCH UP TELEVISION

Over October and November, the number included an additional 144 panels Mushroom Month at
Australian Mushrooms 15-second and that were negotiated for Australian Woolworths, held over October
30-second Add the Mighty Mushie Mushrooms. and November, provided
television advertisements featured a range of opportunities
across 7Plus and 10Play. The placement The retail panels were estimated to through the retail network.
and approach were selected to drive have reached at least 71% of grocery This included access to the
awareness, with the objective of buyers aged 25-54 (approximately 2.7 front of store screen across
reaching over three million Australians million people). the Woolworths network, a
aged 25-44 with a frequency of 1.25 full-page advertisement in
(which means people will see the ads DIGITAL MEDIA the November edition of the
more than once). Woolworths Fresh magazine,
A range of digital media activities inclusion in an e-newsletter
This activity concluded at the end of has placed mushrooms across the to over 400,000 Woolworths
November and will recommence in Nine and Newscorp (Foodcorp) shoppers, keyword search
February 2022, running through until the networks, targeting Adventurous opportunities for online
end of April. and Conscientious Cooks with food purchasers, aisle ns and
inspiration. Placements across the takeaway recipe booklets.
RETAIL MEDIA Nine network have gained positive
traction for Australian Mushrooms, with
Digital retail out-of-home panels audiences spending on average over four
featuring the new hero mushroom minutes reading the food editorials.
recipes targeted consumers on their
path to purchase over October and
November, with the second phase of this
activity scheduled to commence again
in February 2022 and run for a further
three months.

Advertising sites were selected close
to grocery stores or within shopping
centres, with 639 panels used over
the period. It should be noted that this

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 9

Activities across the Foodcorp network, Work is also underway with Better Homes social media, with inspiring recipes and
including Taste.com.au, Delicious and and Gardens on a potential story for their interactive and educational Instagram
Best Recipes, have targetted “healthy next issue. stories.
food” and “cooking enthusiastic”
audiences, with timed ads inspiring As with any PR campaign, many other key Posts have been presented across three
evening meals. publications have been contacted, and content pillars:
discussions are ongoing about further 1. Mighty Healthy – content that
PUBLIC RELATIONS promoting this strong health message.
Further information about the success educates people about the powerful
The immunity-boosting bene ts of of this approach will be included in the and unique superfood bene ts of
mushrooms are being promoted through monthly e-newsletter and the next mushrooms;
a partnership with well-known media edition of this Journal. 2. Mighty Flavoursome – content that
identity Dr Sam (Kyle and Jackie O Show talks about the savoury umami
as Dr Kiis, regular contributor to Body & SOCIAL MEDIA
Soul, and Kidspot). Activities focus on the avour of mushrooms; and
importance of a nutrient-rich diet and Social media is one component of the 3. Mighty Memorable – content that
how adding mushrooms to the diet can marketing campaign that is “always
be a solution to improved immunity. on” – that is, it is always in place, with has a clear and direct focus on
promotions supporting the critical inspirations recipes.
The PR achieved to date includes a campaign messaging and driving users
segment on the top-ranking Kyle and back to the Australian Mushrooms Importantly the posts across the social
Jackie O Show, Radio Triple M in Western website. media channels have achieved strong
Australia and a further interview on Radio audience reach and have engaged
2CC Canberra in which Dr Sam referenced Mushrooms’ health and avour with readers. The top perfoming post
Australian Mushrooms and the nutrition credentials have been driven across reached 315,425 people, with another
research. (This interview can be accessed post performing strongly with readers
at the following link – www.bit.ly/2cc-dr-
sam).

In addition, a further interview has
appeared online through the Yahoo
Lifestyle site. The article - https://bit.ly/
Dr-Sam-immunity - referenced Dr Sam
praising mushrooms as an immune-
boosting food containing many nutrients
important to support a healthy immune
system, such as vitamin D, selenium,
copper and folate. Another story
featuring Dr Sam has appeared in the
Daily Mail Australia, a growing news site
with a claimed unique audience monthly
average of 10 million readers.

10 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

delivering an engagement of 17,396. The of mushrooms by people who enjoy their
gures show that the posts are being food. For example, Ayeh shot a video
about National Mushroom Day, sharing
read and are resonating with the target how much she loves using mushrooms in
audience. Ultimately the messaging is all her recipes. Readers were also treated
about encouraging social media fans to to several mushroom recipes she has
add more mushrooms to more meals. featured in the past.

To stay up to date, please visit the This overall approach helped to
Australian Mushrooms Facebook page maximise the impact of the celebration
(https://bit.ly/Australian-Mushrooms- and further supported activities
Facebook) and the Instagram page undertaken by the initiator of National
(https://bit.ly/Australian-Mushrooms- Mushroom Day, the Australian
Insta) Mushroom Growers Association.

NATIONAL MUSHROOM DAY

While lovers of mushrooms celebrate Health, health and more
every day, National Mushroom Day on health. If you didn’t know
15 October was a further opportunity to mushrooms were healthy
get behind the mighty mushroom, with before National Mushroom
plenty of great recipes and a focus on Day, there is no excuse now.
health bene ts. Mushroom spokesperson and
health expert, Dr Flavia Fayet-
On social media, the messages were Moore, took the opportunity to
leveraged with high reach social talk up several health bene ts.
in uencers such as TastingWithTom, And to show that health and
MonMackFood and Cooking with Ayeh,
each creating bespoke recipe content. avour can go hand in hand, a
This content was communicated further story explained how
through Instagram and also shared to the umami in mushrooms could
Australian Mushrooms social media help enhance the avours of
channels over the key meal occasions meals naturally. Which is a win
throughout the day. for mushrooms and certainly a
cause to celebrate.
The bene t of using other in uencers to
talk about mushrooms provides further
authenticity and taps into a genuine love

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 11

Project Manager key reason healthcare professionals an emerging rise in infectious disease
Nutrition Research Australia recommended mushrooms was avour; leading to strong focus on immunity and
however, this has changed to the point vitamin D, mushrooms are coming more
0402 315 969 where they are now identifying nutrition to the fore with health bene ts in all
and health bene ts.” these areas.”
[email protected]
Ms Wright said the survey results Ms Wright said immunity is now getting
The famous proverb “Ipsa scientia highlight that mushrooms have now a greater focus, with consumers and
potestas est”, meaning “knowledge itself assumed a high position in the minds of health professionals alike, and vitamin
is power”, is a powerful cornerstone health professionals. D has particularly hit the spotlight and
of the levy-funded project to educate become very topical.
health professionals about Australian “What we have done is to take
mushrooms. mushrooms and put them on the agenda “For vitamin D, sun-exposed mushrooms
as a unique food with high health are a standout as the only non-animal
The underpinning objective of the status.” natural food source, and compared to
project has been to increase the supplements provide many more other
knowledge of health professionals, “Even though it is recognised as a goodies! The theme of food as medicine
consequently empowering them to vegetable in the dietary guidelines, we is a beautiful message that resonates,
recommend mushrooms to their clients, have positioned it correctly as neither and mushrooms are primed to be part of
and in turn, driving consumption. a plant nor an animal, but a food that is this approach.”
distinctly relevant to meet the needs of
With the project now concluding, health-conscious consumers.” Ms Wright said the survey included
evidence suggests the work undertaken an additional question relating to the
has very successfully met those She said the recent naturopath seminar updating of the Australian Dietary
objectives. held with the theme “Food as Medicine” Guidelines.
illustrated this approach.
Project Manager Jutta Wright from “The Experts Roundtable that was
Nutrition Research Australia (NRAUS) “Using the science and presenting it in conducted as part of this project
said the nal Audience Sentiment an engaging format, mushrooms was discussed this issue and concluded that
Survey, undertaken in October, positioned as a key therapeutic food for mushrooms should have a greater focus
highlighted the project’s value to the the modern health era.” in the dietary guidelines. So, with this
Australian mushroom industry. recommendation in mind, we tested
“The feedback we received from it with healthcare professionals and
Ms Wright said the overall knowledge healthcare professionals to this seminar pleasingly, only 3% of respondents
among healthcare professionals about was extremely positive, with many disagreed!”
the health bene ts and nutritional participants saying that the information
properties of mushrooms had grown needed to be conveyed more widely.” With the Australian Dietary
signi cantly over the life of the project. Guidelines currently under review, the
“With chronic health care issues such recommendation is that mushrooms
as diabetes and heart disease and now

“What we found was that over half of
the healthcare professionals surveyed
now report to be very familiar with
the health and nutrition properties of
mushrooms, compared to around one
quarter in the original baseline survey.”

“Importantly the number that can now
specify at least one nutritional property
(97.6%) or health bene t (94.6%) has
also increased.”

“It is a great result and an important one
overall for the recognition of the health
bene ts of mushrooms.”

“When we started this project, the

12 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

professionals about the role of
mushrooms in a balanced, healthy diet.”

She outlined that the project had built a
robust communication database.
“Over the three years, we have seen
a 50% increase in numbers, so this
represents an excellent opportunity
to continue to reach interested
participants with the existing collateral
and keep mushroom health messages top
of mind.”

“There is still further opportunity to
increase our reach to our core target and
extend to other healthcare professionals
such as tness professionals.”

“We know that the nutrition and
health bene ts are a key reason why
mushrooms would be recommended and
eaten, and this drives consumption.”

“We need to keep it top of mind now
and continue to drive our reach further
of a responsible, science-backed
communication message to more
healthcare professionals through the
established channels,” Ms Wright said.

should actively participate in the valuable than vegetables.”
process, bringing forward and arguing
the position based on the existing health “The science is showing us that
evidence. mushrooms hold a unique nutritional
position, and combining this with the
According to Ms Wright, while it is likely improved perception by healthcare
that mushrooms would continue to sit professionals, the time is good to push
in the vegetable category, it may be mushrooms further into the limelight.”
possible to draw out some messages to
gain a more prominent focus. Ms Wright said it was important for
mushrooms to look at ways to ensure
She explained that more research they remain top of mind with healthcare
was required around issues such as professionals.
consumption “dosage” and said the
opportunity was now there with the “We know from this project that there
review of the guidelines to push the case are so many health messages out there,
even stronger for mushrooms. and for healthcare professionals, it is all
about being top of mind when it comes
“This project has built on the to recommending mushrooms.”
foundations of previous work and
established a valuable position “Just as nuts have positioned themselves
for mushrooms among health with a handful of nuts per day and dairy
professionals.” with three serves a day, mushrooms
need to establish a clear and easy to
“According to our research, there understand dietary message.”
has been a doubling in the number of
healthcare professionals who view “This would not only reach consumers
mushrooms as being more nutritionally but also serve to remind healthcare

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 13

ITS AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture WHAT IS THE IMPACT being dropped. The organic matter
University of Tasmania, Hobart OF DUST ON MUSHROOM accumulates under trays and shelves
DISEASE? (Fig. 1a) and is compacted into cracks
0417 766 588 and joins in the oor (Fig. 1b). As it dries
The initial source of a disease outbreak out, the organic matter can become
[email protected] on the farm is open to debate. What is airborne through air movement and
certain is that continuing infections are by dry sweeping (Fig. 1c). When rooms
INTRODUCTION largely due to on-farm contamination, are emptied, spent compost must be
most probably through infection of the carefully and totally removed to prevent
Dust is not just the soil that gets blown casing by dust and debris. In the case dust buildup on unsealed roadways and
around the farm from beyond the of Dry Bubble in particular, ‘The Grogan concrete aprons (Fig. 1d). Grow room
boundary fence; the exact composition Experiment’ (see Page 19) demonstrated organic matter may include:
of the dust is a re ection of past that dust from roadways and grow
disease outbreaks on the farm and is an room oors is capable of causing • Spores and mycelium of pathogens
important but often overlooked aspect disease and that the infectivity of grow such as Trichoderma, Cladobotryum
of disease management. This article room oor dust is equivalent to a low and Lecanicillium.
examines dust, where it comes from, concentration of a pure Lecanicillium
how it can a ect your operation and spore preparation. • Agaricus spores and mycelium.
ways of minimising its impact. • Casing and compost, which may
Dust in ltrates grow rooms through
WHAT IS ‘DUST’? open doors, through ine ectual door or may not be contaminated
seals, on sta and their equipment with pathogens and colonised by
Strictly speaking, ‘dust’ is ne and by transference from machinery Agaricus.
particulate matter that becomes and stored raw inputs during lling • Mushroom debris, which may or
suspended in moving air, but which and casing operations, carrying with may not be contaminated with
falls onto any surface once air it pathogen spores, mushroom spores pathogens.
movement stops. In the mushroom farm and pests. Disease symptoms resulting • Dead pests such as ies and the
environment, dust also includes any from windborne dust contamination pathogen and Agaricus spores that
organic material, no matter how large, are typically con ned initially to the they carry.
that can be disturbed by wind. mushroom bed around doorways and • Mites and the pathogen and
vents. But when the initial symptoms Agaricus spores that they carry.
Dust clouds generated on the farm are are overlooked or are not treated • Dried resistant nematode larvae.
mainly composed of soil from unsealed su ciently, standard grow room
farm roadways, bare ground and activities intensify disease expression Furthermore, any operation that stirs
surrounding elds and open ground over the next ushes leading to up compost and/or casing such as
beyond the boundary fence. But signi cant crop losses. machinery used in lling and casing
signi cantly for disease management, operations will generate spore- and
dust also contains organic material WHERE DOES DUST COME mycelium-laden aerosols. They will
originating from mushroom cultivation. FROM? either fall to the oor and become
integrated into the dust fraction, or they
1. Standard cultivation practices create may be blown directly onto cropping
dust beds. This is particularly signi cant for
virus diseases which are transmitted in
During standard cultivation practices Agaricus mycelial cells within Phase III
such as watering, harvesting and spot compost.
treatment, organic matter contaminates
the oor by water splash, runo and 2. Other factors contributing to farm dust

Dust is not only created by standard

14 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

once they are deposited in a favourable
environment such as a mushroom bed,
they become reanimated and form new
infections. Mites, because of their small
size, are dispersed around the farm by
wind irrespective of their inclusion in
dust – wind being the greatest long-
distance dispersal mechanism of mites
second only to vectoring by ies.

CASING – A VULNERABLE
OPERATION

Grogan’s experiment demonstrated
that casing infected with both grow
room dust and roadway dust leads to
Dry Bubble expressing in the 2nd and
3rd ushes respectively. Because the
impact of disease is more severe the
earlier dust contaminates the casing, it
is important to exclude dust as much as
practical, given that casing operations
often partially occur outside.

farm practices. Other contributory resistant spores accumulates in wall and Peat is an input that is stored on the
factors include the farm environment, ceiling cavities, on horizontal surfaces, farm premises often under less-than-
non-standard practices and procedural on the roadways and concrete aprons ideal conditions and is very susceptible
breakdowns (Fig. 2), all being very around the facility and in soil on-site and to dust contamination, particularly as
di cult to manage particularly in these on neighbouring properties. Earthworks peat bags can break during transport
COVID times when farms are often and building renovations disturb these and plastic pallet wrap attracts dust
short-sta ed. reservoirs and the dust, picked up by the through static electricity. (Fig. 3) Monitor
wind, contaminates the mushroom beds stored peat to identify problem bags
WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH and vulnerable sites on the farm, leading and rectify immediately or consider
DUST? to new and widespread infections. discarding damaged bags.

1. Disease reservoirs 2. Pest dispersal STOCKPILING SPENT AND
UNUSED COMPOST – A
Dust forms sources or reservoirs of In their dried resistant state, nematode CAUTIONARY TALE
pests and diseases around the farm so larvae can survive unfavourable
that farms with a history of disease conditions for prolonged periods. Like Stockpiling spent and unused compost
function under the ever-present threat spores of pathogens, the resistant and mushroom debris on-farm creates
of re-infection. Over successive disease larvae are dispersed around the farm many opportunities for disease
cycles, dust containing long-lived in the wind-blown dust fraction and development for a number of reasons:

• Cookout may not remove all pests
and diseases from spent compost
as temperatures vary throughout
the room, so spent compost may
provide a reservoir of pathogens.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 15

16 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 17

18 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 19

• A thoroughly cooked compost REFERENCES
is a biological void – it is still
very ‘nutritious’ and will become Arkenbout J (1988) Air-conditioning as a technical procedure. Chapter 7
colonised by ‘anything’, the spores in: The Cultivation of Mushrooms (LJLD van Griensven, editor). Darlington
of which will then become part of Mushroom laboratories Ltd. England
the farm dust fraction.
Coles PS (2002) Pest species biology and control 5. Nematodes. In:
• Pathogens such as Trichoderma Mushroom Integrated Pest Management Handbook pp78-84. The
and Penicillium will grow on spent Pennsylvania State University
compost and their spores will
become part of the farm dust Curtis J (2008) Mushroom Production Guide for Commercial Growers
fraction. 2008/2009 Edition. British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

• Wind will blow the spores of Fletcher JT, Gaze RH (2008) Mushroom Pest and Disease Control – a color
pathogens and other colonisers of handbook. Academic Press
spent compost directly onto the
farm, especially if the stockpile is Gandy DG (1972) Observations on the development of Verticillium
upwind of the farm buildings. malthousei in mushroom crops and the role of cultural practices in its
control. Mushroom Science 8:171-181
• Excess Phase III dumped on-site
can lead to mushrooms growing Grogan H (2002) Verticillium – an interesting experiment. AMGA Journal
out from infected mycelium and Autumn:21
sporulating, a signi cant factor in a
virus infection. Molde C (2011) Factsheet 02/11: Controlling exposure to dust and bioaerosols
on farms growing common commercial mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).
TEST THE INFECTIVITY OF Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, UK
DUST ON YOUR FARM
Oxford English Dictionary [https//www.oed.com]
Dust can be tested simply on-farm
following the principle of the Grogan Perry RN, Moens M (2011) Survival of parasitic nematodes. Chapter 1 in:
Experiment. At next ll, bag up enough Molecular and Physiological Basis of Nematode Survival (RN Perry, DA
spawn-run compost so you have three Wharton, editors). CAB International
bags for each dust sample you would
like to test and three extra bags for a Pyck N, Grogan H (2015) MushTV factsheet 04/15: Fungal diseases of
control. Immediately after casing the mushrooms and their control
bags, inoculate a small area on the
surface with a sample of dust. Repeat Seaby D (2004) Watch that dust. AMGA Journal Summer:32
this so you have three bags for each
dust sample. Ensure that the tool you
use to apply the dust has been sanitised
between samples. Run the three control
bags the same way as the others, but do
not inoculate them with dust.

Healthy mushrooms and the absence
of disease on the control bags indicates
that your experimental procedure is
‘clean’ and will con rm that disease
forming on the other bags is due only
to the dust. If disease forms on the
control bags, this indicates that either
your procedure is cross-contaminating
the controls or that the bags are being
contaminated in the room where you
incubate the bags either by water splash
or by wind-blown dust entering the
room.

STRATEGIES MITIGATING
THE IMPACT OF DUST

The Grogan Experiment proves that
farm dust is capable of vectoring disease
to mushroom crops. The dust mitigation
strategies (Table 1) are therefore
intended to reduce the likelihood of dust
contamination throughout the farm.

20 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 21

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture dust fraction and are blown round the • Forming inactive chemical
University of Tasmania, Hobart farm. complexes with components of the
disinfectant.
0417 766 588 The value of foot dips during a disease
outbreak is undeniable, but the regular In fact, in highly organic environments
[email protected] cleaning and replenishing of them such as pig farms, the transfer of
is a time-consuming and expensive microbes has been recorded occurring
INTRODUCTION undertaking. Unfortunately, the from foot dips to footwear after just 10
active ingredients of the disinfectants uses.
When diseases express on the registered for use on Australian
mushroom farm, the grow room oor mushroom farms are all known to In terms of the volume of OM present
becomes a signi cant disease reservoir. be diminished by the presence of OM in the environment, mushroom farms
Standard cultivation practices lead (Table 1) so foot dip solution must be sit somewhere between pig farms and
to contamination of the oor with replenished regularly to maintain its hospitals. The composition of OM di ers
spores and mycelium of pathogens e ectiveness. in these three situations of course; the
and, signi cantly for virus diseases, majority of OM on the mushroom farm
the spores and mycelium of Agaricus While some disinfectant manufacturers comprises soil, compost, casing and
mushrooms which transmit viral stipulate that foot dip solutions must be mushroom debris whereas hospital OM
particles. replaced daily, there is no information
on the level of OM contamination that a
The spores and mycelium can then be foot dip disinfectant can tolerate before
tracked through the farm on footwear its e ciency is impacted. It may be that
and wheeled equipment to other grow daily replenishment is insu cient for the
rooms or shared facilities where they amount of OM that is in the mushroom
can be transferred to ‘clean’ zones such farm environment.
as the spawning line and lling line.
This article summarises recent work
Foot dips are a key disease management determining the level of OM at which
tool. Well-maintained, clean foot dips the e cacy of foot dip disinfectant is
are vital for preventing the escape of signi cantly impacted.
pathogens from old, infected rooms
and other contaminated areas of the OM AND DISINFECTANT
farm (containment) and preventing the
introduction of pathogens into new, The presence of OM in foot dips reduces
clean rooms (exclusion). Foot dips also the e cacy of the disinfectant solution
remind sta entering and leaving grow by:
rooms that farm hygiene is an important
and ongoing concern and they mustn’t • Adhering to the microbe’s surface,
be left dirty and abandoned (Fig. 1). blocking the adsorption sites
necessary for the disinfectant to act.

If a foot dip is not being used, it is wise
to empty it, clean it and put it away.
Neglected foot dips pushed into a corner
when not needed can become a breeding
ground for pests and diseases, which,
when the organic material (OM) dries
out, become incorporated into the farm

22 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

consists largely of bodily uids and pig
farm OM is predominantly animal faeces
and soil.

HOW MUCH OM DOES IT TAKE
TO REDUCE DISINFECTANT
EFFICIENCY?

In a controlled laboratory trial using
mushroom casing as the sole OM, the kill
rate of a registered disinfectant against
Lecanicillium fungicola (Dry Bubble)
spores began diminishing after the
addition of as little as 6.4g of casing to
100ml of disinfectant (Table 2).

However, with the addition of more
than 8.0g of casing soil to 100ml of
disinfectant (Fig. 2), the e cacy of the
disinfectant reduced markedly.

FARM FOOT DIP
DISINFECTANT

Five foot dip samples of the same
disinfectant tested in the laboratory
were received from farms under ‘real’
operating conditions and examined.
Despite all the farm samples having
less OM than the 6.4g which marked the
beginning of the diminishing kill rate
in the laboratory test, four of the ve
farm samples showed a reduced kill rate
against L. fungicola spores (Table 3).

OM content is only a single factor which
reduces foot dip disinfectant e cacy.
On the farm, foot dips are subject to
di erent sources of OM and are exposed
to other factors which can reduce
disinfectant e cacy such as dilution by
rain or by splash from hosing down.

Practices such as ’topping up’ rather
than replenishing the foot dip solution
is also an indirect dilution which reduces
the killing power of the disinfectant.

Other factors such as time and exposure References: Amass SF, Vyverberg BD, Ragland D, Dowell CA, Anderson CD, Stover
to UV radiation may also play a role in JH, Beaudry DJ (2000) Evaluating the e cacy of boot baths in biosecurity protocols.
reducing the e ectiveness of foot dip Swine Health and Production 8:169-173
disinfectants. The physical removal
of disinfectant from the foot dip on Gill W (2019) Put your foot down! Ensure your foot dips are safe to use and t-for-
shoes and by splashing as feet track purpose. Australian Mushrooms Journal 1:20-23
through the foot dip will also result in
less disinfectant and a corresponding Gilmore BF, Ceri H, Gorman SP (CCC) Laboratory evaluation of antimicrobial agents.
increase in the concentration of OM. Chapter 18 in: Hugo and Russell’s Pharmaceutical Microbiology, 8th Edition (SP
Denyer, N Hodges, SP Gorman, BF Gilmore, editors). Blackwell Publishing Ltd
CONCLUSION

The impact of OM on the e cacy of
foot dip disinfectant is signi cant and
may in uence the e ectiveness of your
disease management strategy.

Ensure your foot dips are replenished
regularly and do not allow OM to build
up in the bottom of the foot dip.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 23

24 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 25

ACCESS GRANTED

Pest & Disease Service
02 6767 1057
[email protected]

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
University of Tasmania, Hobart

0417 766 588
[email protected]

A minor use Permit is now in place
for Serifel® biofungicide and all other
registered products containing 110g/kg
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MB1600
as the only active constituent.
Use instructions for mushrooms will not
be on the label because the legal use
pattern is via a Permit. A copy of the
Permit has been distributed to farms but
can also be downloaded o the APVMA
website.
This Permit was granted in a relatively
short time frame in Australia because
the product is approved in Europe,
United States and Canada and, because
it is a biological product, the step of
submitting residue information to
the registration authority (Australian
Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines
Authority) was not required.

26 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Critical Use Comments listed on the
Permit include :
• Apply to mushroom compost,

mushroom spawn or mushroom
supplement, depending on growth
system. Then apply at casing,
before 1st ush, between 1st and
2nd ush, and/or between 2nd
and 3rd ush, according to disease
pressure.
• Apply by compost incorporation,
mixing with mushroom spawn,
mixing with mushroom growing
supplement, or as a surface spray/
drench, as per the Directions for Use
table.
• For surface drench treatments,
apply using sprinkler systems for
delivering higher water volumes.
Use a spray volume of 100 L/100 m2.
• DO NOT apply more than 10
applications per crop.
• For drench application: Application
of Serifel Biofungicide prior to
or in the early stages of disease
development provides the best
suppression of Green Mould.
• Before combining Serifel
Biofungicide in the spray tank with
other pesticides or products, test
the combination on a small portion
of the crop to be treated to ensure
that a phytotoxic response will not
occur as a result of application.

A Withholding Period (between
application and harvest) is NOT required.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 27

Pest & Disease Service you test for a virus, you don’t know the Bacilliform Virus (MBV) has been
disease status of your farm. the standard test used on samples
02 6767 1057 submitted for virus testing at CHS.
In summarising current knowledge
[email protected] at the recent eCongress, Burton and Going forward, the standard test at
Grogan stated that Mushroom Virus X CHS will also be expanded to target the
In our current operating climate Disease is, in fact, a combination of two speci c viruses associated with Patch
containing COVID 19, it is regularly distinct syndromes: Disease and Brown Cap Mushroom
brought to our attention that virus Disease (so AbVE1, ABV6, and AbV16).
can (and does) adapt and change, and 1. Patch Disease which expresses as: To date AbV16 has not been detected in
that testing is necessary because the Australia, despite Brown Cap Mushroom
range of symptoms can vary. This is also • Bare patches of unproductive Disease symptoms expressing.
applicable to the mushroom industry. compost which ‘spiral’ along the bed.
When discussing symptoms and
The paper on mushroom virus presented • Mushrooms with poor shelf-life test results with Helen Grogan, she
by Kerry Burton and Helen Grogan at • mushroom with reduced overall commented:
the International Society of Mushroom
Science eCongress held in September quality. • That any virus detection was
2021 was comprehensive. It enabled • Distorted mushrooms showing signi cant and meant that viral
our Pest and Disease Project team to replication was occurring and
update our knowledge on overseas dropped veils, helmets and water should not be ignored by farms.
developments plus review virus testing streaking.
procedures in Australia. • That the absence of AbV16 given
and is probably caused by: that some of the mushrooms tested
Mushroom virus hasn’t been a common were sampled and were known to
topic of conversation in the Australian • Endornavirus AbVE1. have been sampled from crops that
mushroom industry, but we are aware • AbV6. displayed Patch Disease symptoms
some farms have observed virus-like and post-harvest browning
symptoms AND had yield and quality 2. Brown Cap Mushroom Disease which symptoms means that a novel virus
losses AND had virus detected when expresses as: disease complex unique to Australia
mushrooms were sent to the laboratory could be present. She explained
for testing. • Mushroom browning. the history of virus in the United
• Mushrooms with poor shelf-life. Kingdom mushroom industry and
What was an unexpected ‘wake- stressed the potential magnitude
up’ call was that of ve samples of and is caused by: of yield and quality losses that virus
mushrooms taken from three di erent can cause, and recommended it
supermarkets, a total of three contained • AbV16 (Brown Cap Mushroom Virus: would be a good idea to investigate
virus particles that have been associated BCMV). the presence of a novel virus more
overseas with disease. closely.
• AbV6.
In addition to this, we arranged for Further to those discussions, a plan
a virus test on a disease sample The testing lab we work with for virus of doing a nationwide voluntary farm
that we had submitted for bacterial testing in Australia is Crop Health survey to try and determine the extent
identi cation. We were surprised to Services (CHS, AgriBio), located in a of the problem within the Australian
be told it too contained a pathogenic suburb of Melbourne. We were very industry emerged. The second phase
virus. This simply reinforced that unless grateful to facilitate a remote meeting would be to establish a NEW project
between CHS researchers and Dr Helen involving a postgraduate student to
Grogan from TEAGASC in Ireland and investigate if we have a novel virus
discuss mushroom viruses and testing disease expressing in Australia.
in detail.

In the past, La France Disease (LIV) and
the known associated virus Mushroom

28 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY?
To participate, please contact Survey Co-ordinator Judy Allan (contact details on Page 28), and she will allocate you a
farm code to ensure con dentiality and send sampling and dispatch details. A link to a short video will also be sent to
help build your knowledge of mushroom virus symptoms.
WHAT IS THE COST TO THE FARM TO PARTICIPATE?
The MU16003 Project team have negotiated a discounted cost for testing based on the number of samples estimated
that will be submitted. Each farm is eligible to send in four samples and will not have to pay for these tests, with the
project covering the testing cost. You will only have to pay for the packaging and express postage.
HOW WILL THE FARM RECEIVE THE RESULTS?
The results will not be sent directly back from the Lab. The results will be sent to the Survey Coordinator Judy Allan,
and she will contact you with the results; if the virus is detected, you will be helped to develop an action plan.
WILL MY RESULTS BE IDENTIFIABLE TO MY FARM WHEN THE RESULTS ARE
PUBLISHED?
The results will be tabulated in a way similar to the table shown below, which summarises the di erent combinations
of virus that have been detected in Australia in the last 12 months.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 29

Researcher and International Mushroom He said the value of quality was not just mycelial cells previously growing apart
Consultant competition between individual farms from one another to extract maximum
but competition for consumers facing nutrition then go into the casing and
[email protected] myriad food choices. wind around each other to form cords.”

There is something about quality that Dr Burton explained consumer surveys “This environmental change of airing
attracts. With mushrooms, the clean, had de ned mushroom quality primarily results in primordia emerging from
white, rm mushrooms stand out in the as colour, texture, uniformity and the cords, and as these grow, we have
retail environment and ask to be taken di erent tissues - the stem, the gills and
home and enjoyed. And those browning avour. the inner esh – being formed.”
remnants on the shelf are destined to stay
where they are – on the shelf. In addition, he said, other aspects “Two of these tissues, the skin and the
come into the mix in de ning quality: stem, are extremely relevant to quality.”
So given that quality is a central element consumer attitudes to things like
to consumers buying more mushrooms, generic issues, ethical, environmental, Dr Burton explained that the skin of the
more often, what on-farm elements are and health and well-being. mushroom has unique properties.
essential to delivering a consistent, high-
quality product to the retail environment? “For mushrooms, quality is determined “The skin is elastic and can stretch as
by all aspects of growth, both before the mushroom grows, allowing it to
At the recent International Society for and after harvest.” slough o the casing residue. But the
Mushroom Science (ISMS) conference, skin also contains some elements, some
Dr Kerry Burton, an internationally “From when they rst emerge from biochemicals, which protect it against
renowned researcher with over 40 years pinning, from the formation of the pathogens.”
of experience, shared his thoughts on cellular structure, there are enzymes
the topic, bringing together his personal and biochemicals present. Then as part “This protection mechanism becomes a
research ndings on mushroom quality. of harvesting, the mushroom has to quality issue, as the browning reaction
The following article is based on this adapt to the savage process of being in the skin contains a large amount of
presentation. picked.” enzymes and the phenolic substrate.”

According to Dr Burton, consumers “There is a switch in metabolism from He said the stem was a di erent,
judge mushroom quality by view, touch, imported to stored nutrition, and the structural tissue, holding the mushroom
and taste. And the judgement of those mushroom must adapt to the damage aloft for spore dispersal.
factors helps to determine satisfaction caused by the harvesting, transport and
and whether the product is purchased packaging as well.” “The stem is also a transport tissue,
again. delivering nutrients. After harvest, the
Dr Burton said one of the rst tissues stem becomes a source of nutrients, and
seen was the skin, and it was this cellular this is another quality issue that a ects
structure that determines the texture the loss of texture.
and the susceptibility of the mushroom
to bruising and browning. Dr Burton said research into mushroom
quality was an interdisciplinary
“The study taking into account aspects
enzymes and such as observation, biochemistry,
biochemicals biomechanics, molecular genetics
present and genomics, experimentation to
determine identify key environmental factors and
the browning postharvest technologies.
reaction,
and also the He said one of the rst aspects to
be considered was to observe the
avours.” mushroom colour.

“When we “Mushrooms are normally white, but
cover the any blemish, bruise or casing residue
Agaricus can downgrade the quality, and this also
substrate with
the casing, the

30 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

applies to the brown strains, which can
also be seen to be dirty or bruised.”

“Bruising type browning of mushrooms
can occur due to pathology or physical
damage, and the pathology itself is a
form of physical damage.”

Pleasingly, he said, most mushrooms
remain white, which is a credit to
mushroom breeders who have done a
great job in producing low browning
strains over the past few decades.

Dr Burton said that early in his career, texture in the stem; however, it also maximised.”
he observed that the mushroom skin releases umami avour chemicals like
browns to a greater degree than the glutamate and aspartate.” “The easiest way is to measure density
underlying tissue. by cutting out a 10mm cube from the
Dr Burton explained that serine central part of the mushroom cap and
“This is because the skin contains a proteinase is part of a family of enzymes weighing it. The density measured as
high level of the phenolic substrate and that release nitrogen from the compost mg/cm3 is a good proxy for texture or
higher levels of the enzyme tyrosinase.” and the protein from soy supplement mushroom sti ness.”
and microbes.
“Another observation is that browning Bruising damage is yet another issue
occurs within seconds after bruising “It is only present in the compost in the that can downgrade the mushroom
because the tyrosinase and the phenols presence of humic chemicals, these are quality. This damage, he said, occurs in
are already present in the skin cells.” the brown sticky chemicals that we get the low-density zone on the mushroom
in Agaricus substrate, and this is why surface and is caused by slip shear or
He said many reactions contribute to Agaricus bisporus needs composted downward or sideways movement that
browning; however, a key aspect is that substrate, rather than just raw straw.” happens during picking, handling and
phenols are oxidised to produce quinone, transportation.
which is catalysed by the enzyme He said biomechanics allows a closer
tyrosinase. look at the structure of cell packaging Dr Burton said he had conducted a
and how this relates to overall quality. range of experiments in this area
“The theory is that the tyrosinase and using a shaking box and a purpose-
phenols are in di erent subcellular “Using an electron-micrograph allows built bruisometer, and then measuring
compartments, and when pathogens us to examine the cap surface, showing the colour of the mushrooms after
attack and bruising occurs, these a zone of low-density cells that are two hours of storage in controlled
compartments mix and the reaction unable to resist damage, and below temperature and controlled humidity.
takes place.” that a whole region of high-density of
cells that can resist damage. So, the “If we look at the variety of agronomic
“A key component in this reaction susceptibility to bruising and texture and environmental factors to identify
is oxygen, which is normally at very are related to di erent zones of the susceptibility for bruising, the ones that
low levels in living cells, but when the mushroom, and have to be studied have been found to have the greatest
tissue is damaged, the oxygen can go separately.” in uence are water in the casing,
up, further increasing the browning water in the air (humidity), and calcium
reaction.” He detailed that mushroom texture chloride irrigation which have quite a
is rapidly lost in the mushroom after profound e ect.”
Dr Burton said that tyrosinase is an harvest.
important component of mushroom While the discussion of molecular
quality at a chemical level, as it is known “Texture is lost in the stipe, the stem, genetics and genomics may be a turn o
to be activated by proteinase. and after one day on the cap tissue. for some in the industry, he said that it
It is interesting, however, that cooler is a game changer in the study of biology
“With this knowledge, I set out to mushrooms preserve the texture – and in the hands of scientists.
identify the key proteinase in old if they are held at 5°, it will take six days
mushrooms, in senescent mushrooms.” for this loss to occur.” “Using the available techniques allows
us to look at all the enzymes at the same
“By purifying and characterising the According to Dr Burton, mushroom time. Applying this to the mushroom
serine proteinase enzyme, I found it was texture can be in uenced by several after harvest, we can see which bits of
only in the stem tissue, not the cap, so agronomic factors, including depth of biology contribute most to quality loss.”
while it is important to quality, it is not compost, depth of casing, irrigation
actually contributing to the browning of technique and the choice of mushroom Dr Burton said that in terms of
the mushroom.” strain. protein degradation, it is possible to
see how quickly serine proteinase,
“The serine proteinase operates in the “While I can’t give precise leucine aminopeptidase (24 hours), and
stem, releasing carbon and nitrogen recommendations because it is glucoronyl hydrolase (16 hours) release
from the stem proteins so that the cap di erent for each farm, I can tell you carbon and nitrogen, subsequently
and spores can grow. In terms of quality, how to measure texture so it can be a ecting quality.
it is partly responsible for a big loss of

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 31

He said the second approach of chemical
analysis highlights a range of chemicals,
including glutamate and 5’ nucleotides
- both of which contain the umami

avour and increase in mushrooms
after harvest - and also other avour
compounds, including glycerol, that also
increase postharvest.

“The interesting question here is if
mushroom strain can a ect avour, can
supplements also have an impact?”

He said work undertaken with Dr Ralph
Noble in this area found no di erence
to the taste pro les of fresh or cooked
mushrooms across supplemented and
non-supplemented compost.

“This timing contrasts with stress of chemical washing successfully “This is good news because it means
tolerance genes such as superoxide reverses the browning reaction on the that supplements such as soy,
dismutase, which has a very rapid mushroom. lipid protein, carboxylic acid and
response of just three hours. “ micronutrients are not causing o
“Applying chemical washing can clean o
“Knowing how important oxygen is and debris, and if the solution is held cool, it avours in the harvested mushrooms.”
how quickly this enzyme is switched can quickly remove the eld heat from
on is information that is available the mushroom. When the chemical is Dr Burton said in addition to the
for breeders to use when they are exhausted, the mushrooms can have a production issues, there was a range
considering the next steps towards washed appearance and sometimes go of other problems generic to product
quality mushrooms.” brown, and its use can also detract from quality, including ethical, environmental,
the promotion of mushrooms as a ‘fresh’ health and well-being considerations.
In terms of postharvest technologies, product.”
there are many options to be considered At an ethical level, he said, the industry
to maintain product quality, he said. Going hand in hand with quality is must ensure respect for human rights,
the issue of avour, with Dr Burton sta , and reasonable pay. While these
The rst option to consider, he said, is to suggesting two ways - taste panels or issues all appear to be commonsense,
apply rapid cooling, with another option chemical analysis - to address the issue. he said it is essential they are not
modi ed atmosphere packaging, and the overlooked.
third option of chemical washing. Dr Burton said a recent United
States study de ned the sensory “In the area of environmental issues,
“Rapid cooling is successful in reducing characteristics of mushrooms as earthy, mushrooms have a good story to tell
cap opening, texture loss and cap hay, soybean, potato, and woody aroma in converting agricultural waste into a
browning.” food product. Furthermore, some fungal
avours. species can degrade most carbon-based
“Modi ed atmosphere packaging is pollutants and plastics, presenting
the overwrapping of mushrooms in a The study also identi ed di erences a potential environmentally friendly
permeable or perforated membrane between the Portobello and Crimini business opportunity.”
and is again successful in reducing cap strains, which had higher avour
opening, some texture loss and reduces intensities in earthy, dark, woody, “One big environmental issue, however,
cap browning.” cabbage, and umami than the white applying to Agaricus is the use of peat
mushroom strains. in the casing. It is an issue that will not
“It can, however, lead to some moisture go away, and it will impact the industry.
accumulation over extended storage;
however, this is likely to be reduced with
the current move to more biodegradable
packaging lms (like cellulose) allowing
water movement and reducing moisture
accumulation.”

“Given that rapid cooling and modi ed
atmosphere packaging operate on the
mushroom via di erent principles, an
additional bene t is they can be added
together to provide further extensions
to overall shelf-life.”

Dr Burton said the remaining technology

32 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

It is something that requires a whole of “Agaricus can also hold large quantities With attention to these details,
industry approach to work together to of selenium, potassium, and potentially producers can continue to deliver a high-
iodine, which is a very important issue quality product to consumers in the
nd long-term solutions.” for reproductive-aged females.” foreseeable future, he said.

Dr Burton said in the health and well- “All of this represents a good marketing
being area, mushrooms have a great opportunity, with other opportunities
story to tell. existing in areas where mushrooms are
just at the threshold of proof for medical
“Mushrooms have a di erent source of bene ts.”
nutrients compared with vegetables
or meat, with high levels of ribo avin, Dr Burton said the issue of mushroom
thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, quality was a complex one that required
vitamin B2, and vitamin D2 after examination of a range of issues.
ultraviolet treatment.”

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 33

Microbiotech Ltd, Pershore Centre straw into forms suitable for mushroom be regarded primarily as N sources,
Worcestershire, United Kingdom growth. The biomass and high molecular while ingredients with N contents of less
weight humic polymers produced by than 1% of dry matter can be regarded
[email protected] these microbes provide a selective primarily as C sources.
nutrient source that feeds the button
University of Sydney mushroom mycelium but is largely Over-supply of N in compost
School of Life & Environmental Sciences inaccessible for competitor micro- formulations results in excessive release
organisms and moulds. of ammonia and nitrous oxides and is
[email protected] less productive. Since ammonia is toxic
The optimum C:N ratio in a mushroom to the Agaricus mycelium, this limits
Australian mushroom farms produce compost formulation is about 30:1, the amount of N that can be added into
around 70,000 tonnes of button which is equivalent to an N-content of compost formulations at the start of
mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus) annually. about 1.5% of dry matter. Most of the composting. However, mushroom yields
In order to provide the carbon (C) and C and N becomes microbial biomass can be increased by providing additional
nitrogen (N) needed to grow these during composting, but some of the C is N in the form of soy-based protein
mushrooms, the industry, therefore, converted to carbon dioxide by microbial supplements later in the process.
requires about 260,000 tonnes of respiration, and part of the N content is
suitable and cheap raw materials every released as ammonia. STRAW AS A SOURCE OF C
year. These raw materials are mainly AND N
composed of straw and/or stable At starting levels of N above 2%,
bedding, manure and gypsum, and their more N is lost as ammonia than C as The main component of mushroom
e cient conversion into a high yielding carbon dioxide, and compost N content composts in temperate regions is wheat
substrate is essential for commercial therefore decreases during composting. straw, used fresh or in stable bedding,
mushroom production. When the starting level of compost N is and this is also the main C source. Wheat
below 1.5%, ammonia losses are small, straw contains 36 to 39% C, but only
and the proportion of N in compost between 0.3 and 1.1% of N, and much of
therefore increases during composting. the N in straw is probably unavailable to
microbes during composting. Rye straw
Feedstocks with N contents of more performs similarly to wheat straw for
than 2% of dry matter can consequently mushroom compost production, and in

Maximum yields are obtained by
achieving the correct balance of C and
N sources in the raw materials used
for composting. These elements are an
essential part of the nal mushroom
crop – about 40% of the dry weight of
the mushroom cap is made up of C, and
N is required to make the protein in a
nutritious mushroom. However, C and N
are also essential for the activity of the
microbes that carry out the composting
process and provide food for the
mushroom mycelium.

Compost microbes need energy for
growth, and this is provided by the C in
the raw materials. More importantly,
they use the N in the compost
feedstocks to build the proteins in their
own cells, which can then convert the
cellulose and hemicellulose carbon in

34 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Asia, rice straw is used in place of wheat Australia produces over 1 million tonnes manure or pig slurry and straw gave
straw. Oat and barley straw degrade of poultry litter annually, although mushroom yields comparable with those
more rapidly during composting than the composition of the litter and its from horse manure composts, as did
wheat straw, though mushroom yields suitability for mushroom compost the use of liquid cattle slurry instead
with compost prepared in bunkers from production depends on the type of of water. In a straw/poultry manure
barley straw are as good as those from poultry production and the bedding. compost, 70% of the poultry manure
wheat straw. Straw from sugarcane, Poultry manure with readily degradable N could be replaced by an equivalent
canola, linseed, peas and beans, various bedding material such as straw is more amount of cattle manure. Digestate
grasses and corn cobs have also been suitable for mushroom composting
used as C sources in mushroom compost than manure with sawdust or wood bre from the anaerobic digestion of
formulations, but they are usually shavings, which can encourage the poultry manure, food or crop wastes
only part of the mix, since complete growth of green moulds. Due to lower has been used in the production of
replacement of wheat or similar straw moisture content and ease of handling mushroom substrates, and sugarcane
results in reduced mushroom yields. and storage, broiler poultry manure is bagasse/straw has also a orded good
preferred. Ammonia suppressants are mushroom yields.
ORGANIC SOURCES OF applied to the bedding by some poultry
NITROGEN FOR COMPOSTING farmers, but these do not seem to a ect Vegetable wastes, dried hop waste and
mushroom cropping performance and brewers’ grains released less ammonia
Because straw contains insu cient have only a small e ect on compost than poultry manure during composting
N to sustain microbial growth in N or on ammonia emissions during but produced similar mushroom yields
the compost, an additional N source composting. when composted with wheat straw.
is required. In Australia, this has Crop stalks or stems and residues from
traditionally been poultry manure, but Where straw is the main C source in the glasshouse crops such as peppers and
there is increasing concern that the N compost, there is an optimum inclusion tomatoes contain moderate amounts of
content of this feedstock has decreased rate of poultry manure, depending on available N and can be used in mushroom
with changes to poultry farming the N content. Where stable bedding compost formulations, although their
methods and regulation, and other N is the main C source in the compost, availability is seasonal. Paunch grass
sources are needed. the addition of excess poultry manure (the undigested contents of animal
can readily lead to an over-supply of N carcasses from abattoirs) has moderate
Extensive lists of alternative raw and reduced mushroom yield. However, N content but is high in moisture and
materials for mushroom cultivation researchers from the 1960s onwards could be used in mushroom composting
substrates have been made by Stamets have found that mushroom yields where high Phase I bunker temperatures
(2000) and Poppe (2000), although many from horse manure composts could be meet the regulatory requirements of
of these materials are only available improved by adding poultry manure animal waste disposal.
in tropical regions (Table 1). N sources and various other organic N sources,
that may be available in quantity in providing that this did not lead to Other organic materials tested
Australasia include cow, pig and sheep residual ammonia in the compost. (chipboard waste, cocoa meal and shells,
manures, animal skin, hair, bone, dried wool waste and dried digestate bre)
blood and horn wastes, feather meal, Composts incorporating these other have total N contents above 2% of dry
organic N sources can be at least as matter but only release small amounts
sh and shell sh residues, brewery and productive as composts that are made of ammonia during composting and
distillery wastes and grape, citrus and using only horse or poultry manure result in poor mushroom yields (Table
olive fruit wastes. as available N sources. In early work, 1). However, these materials may be
composts prepared from strawy bullock suitable with longer composting periods
Mushroom composts have also been to enable the release of N.
successfully prepared by incorporating
blood meal, canola meal, cottonseed
meal, guano, malt sprouts and
brewers’ grains (Table 1), but these
are less available to composters and
may be more expensive since they
have alternative value as fertiliser or
animal feed. In several experiments,
excess application of these materials
in compost formulations resulted in
poorer mushroom yields than moderate
applications.

Australia and New Zealand produce huge
quantities of manures (especially cow
and sheep), but much of this material
is widely dispersed and remote from
mushroom composting sites. Poultry
manure, by contrast, has widespread
availability, moderately high N content
and low alternative value and has been a
standard mushroom compost ingredient
for many decades.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 35

Recycling of spent mushroom compost moderate amounts (Table 2). The bene t of supplementation is
and green wastes into Phase I highest for composts with low N
ingredients may provide an additional FEEDING THE MUSHROOM content, but increased yields are
source of N. Recycled compost leachate MYCELIUM - OTHER ASPECTS also obtained with composts made
(‘goody’ water) can also be a signi cant with an ‘adequate’ N supply. This
source of compost N if it constitutes In addition to straw and manure, clearly demonstrates that even in
a high proportion of the water added gypsum (calcium sulphate) is the good composts, mushroom nutrition
during pre-wetting of raw materials. third major component in compost is restricted by the amount of
formulations, and it is also important ammonium-N which can be present in
INORGANIC SOURCES OF in controlling N supply. Gypsum was the compost formulation.
NITROGEN FOR COMPOSTING originally added to mushroom compost
to improve the physical structure and A wide range of materials of plant
Various chemical fertiliser or inorganic prevent greasiness. This function has and animal origin have been tested
N sources have been used in mushroom been made largely unnecessary today by for use as supplements. Performance
compost formulations, but the most using shorter and more highly aerated is related to crude protein content,
common are ammonium sulphate and composting systems. and best results are generally
urea (Table 2). Ammonium sulphate is a obtained from seed meals and
by-product of sulphuric acid scrubbing However, gypsum is still needed to processed products, particularly from
of composting emissions before obtain good yields because it binds cottonseed and soy bean. Commercially
bio ltration, and therefore a cheap ammonia, stabilising the compost N as available supplements are based on
source of recycled N. It usually needs the less volatile ammonium sulphate. formaldehyde-treated soy bean meal
to be added together with calcium The e ect is partially counteracted by and other biological by-products. These
carbonate, removing the need for gypsum’s high calcium content, which are added to Phase 3 compost at 0.5 to
gypsum in mushroom compost. For the increases compost pH and destabilises 1.6% w/w, with expected mushroom
compost microbes, urea is a more readily ammonium sulphate. It may therefore yield increases of 10-30%.
available form than ammonium sulphate be more e ective to add dilute sulphuric
and results in a more rapid ammonia acid to compost. The cost of sulphuric A mushroom yield increase of at least
release from compost. It can be added acid is signi cantly less than gypsum, 10% is required to justify the cost of
during the pre-wetting of raw materials although the cost and safety of spray compost supplementation using such
where it is less likely to cause odour application of acid would also need to be materials. The typical gross value of the
nuisance than poultry manure. considered. additional mushrooms harvested has
been estimated at six times the cost
Replacing poultry manure with an Additional nitrogen can also be provided of the supplement, although this does
equivalent amount of N as urea or later in the composting process. Adding not include the costs of applying the
ammonium sulphate during composting protein-containing supplements to supplement or harvesting and marketing
with wheat straw results in higher ‘spawn run’ compost before casing the extra mushrooms.
N loss for urea and lower N loss with increases mushroom yields and quality
ammonium sulphate. Composts where and is now practised on most mushroom WAYS FORWARD FOR
either of these inorganic N sources farms. Less bene t is obtained when COMPOST NITROGEN IN
replaced 50-100% of poultry manure N supplements are added to pasteurised AUSTRALIA
produced lower mushroom yields than (Phase 2) compost at spawning because
poultry manure compost. Application there is more competition for nutrients Phase I mushroom compost is produced
of excess inorganic N in compost from other micro-organisms at this on around 12 composting yards across
formulations usually produces poorer stage. Australia and four in New Zealand, with
mushroom yields than application of

36 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

each site producing between 60 and content to become available. To wet the FURTHER READING
1,800 tonnes per week. The composts composts, most Australian composting
are based on wheat straw as the main yards supplement fresh water with An extended form of this article listing
C source, unlike many Phase I composts at least 50% recycled water, but this the sources of all the data cited is
in Europe, which are partially or entirely accounts for less than 5% of the N added available on request from the authors.
based on stable bedding and may include to the compost formulations.
other types of straw such as barley, rye • Burton KS & Noble R (2015)
and oilseed rape. In conclusion, wheat straw and poultry Understanding mushroom nutrition:
manure are the main C and N sources Project aimed at improving
Phase I compost N contents in Australia in mushroom compost formulations yield, substrate e ciency and
are typically 1.8 to 2.2% w/w of dry in Australasia. However, at least 20% utilisation and avour. Project M
matter, and this N is predominantly of the poultry manure is already being 56, Final Report. Agriculture and
supplied by poultry manure, with replaced by other organic N sources Horticulture Development Board,
broiler poultry bedding material on some composting yards. A wide Kenilworth, United Kingdom.
preferred. However, degradable rice range of other potential organic matter
husks are increasingly being replaced C and N sources are available for • Carrasco J, Zied DC, Pardo JE,
by wood shavings for poultry bedding, compost production in Australia and Preston GM & Pardo-Gimenez
and compost yards are therefore New Zealand. Their application may A (2018) Supplementation in
increasingly using layer hen manure require readjustment of the composting mushroom crops and its impact on
and replacing up to 6% and 20% of process since substitution of N in wheat yield and quality. AMB Express 8:
the poultry manure with alternative straw:poultry manure composts is Article 146.
inorganic and organic N sources, generally more challenging than in horse
respectively. manure composts. • Noble R, Hobbs PJ, Mead A &
Dobrovin-Pennington A (2002)
Organic N sources which are currently To facilitate this process, there is an In uence of straw types and
used or have the potential to replace urgent need for an up-to-date inventory nitrogen sources on mushroom
broiler poultry manure in Australasia of the types, quantities, and localities composting emissions and compost
are highlighted in bold in Table 1. of by-products from the Australasian productivity. Journal of Industrial
Materials with high moisture contents agricultural and food production sectors. Microbiology & Biotechnology 29:
such as crop haulms, vegetable wastes, This will identify novel alternative N 99-110.
grape marc and paunch grass would sources that have low competitor value,
only be viable if the sources are close ease of transport to composting sites, • Poppe J (2000) Use of agricultural
to the composting yards and would analytical uniformity of batches and waste materials in the cultivation
require readjustment of the water performance at least comparable with of mushrooms. Mushroom Science
applications made to the compost. Wool poultry manure. 15: 3-23.
wastes could be used but need a longer
composting process to enable the N • Stamets P (2000) Growing gourmet
and medicinal mushrooms. Ten
Speed Press, Berkeley.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 37

University of Sydney respectively, but bacteria and fungi, “In terms of fungal diversity,
Ph.D. Candidate mostly from the feedstocks, are the Mycothermus thermophilus is the
main drivers of composting.” dominant fungus found in Phase 2, to
[email protected] about mid Phase 3, where the Agaricus
She explained that microbes outgrows Mycothermus. Mycothermus
When consumers select rm, white, high- were responsible for the nutrient thermophilus is probably better known
quality mushrooms to take home, they transformations that occur during to composters under its previous name,
are certainly not thinking about microbes. composting. Scytalidium thermophilum.”
And yet, it is the interaction of a range of “They break down the cellulose and Ms Thai said Mycothermus had been
microbes, all with names that would defy the hemicellulose in wheat straw and extensively studied for its importance
entrants in any spelling competition, that are also responsible for mobilising and in mushroom compost, primarily for its
deliver high-quality mushroom compost. transforming nitrogen throughout the role in incorporating volatile ammonia
composting process.” back into the compost as microbial
Levy-funded research, undertaken through biomass. It is also known to produce
the University of Sydney, is examining She said the research had shown a wide cellulose and hemicellulose degrading
these interactions in detail to help range of bacterial diversity in mushroom enzymes, which break down the wheat
understand what makes a better, higher compost. straw, and in turn, feed the Agaricus
producing compost. Recently, researcher mycelium.
Meghann Thai spoke at the International “In phase 1, there is a rapid succession
Society for Mushroom Science conference of dominant bacterial genera. She said the pressing question was how
detailing her work in this area. However, in subsequent phases, we the dominant fungus Mycothermus
see a stable bacterial consortium of and the dominant bacterium,
Ms Thai said there would be no Pseudoxanthomonas, Steroidobacter Pseudoxanthomonas interact with each
mushroom compost without microbes. and a member of the Chitinophagaceae other.
family.”
“The three key ingredients of straw, “To test this, three species of
poultry manure and gypsum have “Pseudoxanthomonas is the dominant Pseudoxanthomonas were isolated from
been used for decades to produce bacterial genus found in Phase 2 and mushroom compost. They were grown
mushroom compost. Straw and poultry Phase 3 compost. It is also found in other on a nutrient medium in the laboratory,
manure provide carbon and nitrogen, cellulose-degrading consortia because of and once fully grown, Mycothermus was
its ability to produce beta-glucosidase, inoculated next to the bacterial cultures
which helps break down cellulose into on the plate and allowed to grow over
individual glucose monomers.” them.”

“This approach was used to determine
if the bacteria had any e ect on
Mycothermus growth.”

She reported that Pseudoxanthomonas
taiwanensis and P. koreensis don’t a ect
the mycelial growth of Mycothermus,
but for P. suwonensis, Mycothermus
mycelium does not grow over the
bacteria.

“P. taiwanensis is also the dominant
bacterial species found in mushroom
compost, so, this nding that
Mycothermus and P. taiwanensis interact
with each other is a great result.”

38 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Ms Thai said the work also isolated a the fungal growth was monitored by better in the presence of Mycothermus,
novel chitin degrading bacterium called measuring radial growth daily. but Mycothermus was signi cantly
CP21.6 from the compost. This new impacted by Mycovorax, which actively
species belongs to the Chitinophagaceae “It was observed that degraded the fungus over time.
family, and she has named it Mycovorax Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis,
composti. the dominant species of “Using microscopy images allowed the
Pseudoxanthomonas in mushroom observation of healthy Mycothermus
“The study showed that M. composti compost, slowed the growth of hyphae, where the fungal cell wall is still
has an even greater ability to impact Mycothermus, but it did not halt its completely intact. These were compared
the growth of Mycothermus than P. growth, whereas P. koreensis and P. to Mycothermus that has been incubated
suwonensis. The Mycothermus mycelial suwonensis signi cantly impacted the with Mycovorax, where the fungal cell
growth doesn’t even come close to the growth of Mycothermus.” wall is almost completely degraded.”
Mycovorax bacteria.”
“In terms of bacterial growth, it “This result is most likely because
She said Mycovorax grows best between was noticed that Mycothermus Mycovorax is degrading the chitin in
40 and 50°, which is also the ideal greatly boosted the growth of the fungal cell wall of Mycothermus and
temperature for Mycothermus. Pseudoxanthomonas species. using it as food” she said.
This is most likely due to release
“But what these plates are showing us of a compound nutrient by the Ms Thai said the study concluded that
is the fungal growth once the bacteria Mycothermus.” Mycothermus and Pseudoxanthomonas
have reached stationary phase, rather are the dominant fungus and bacterium
than how these organisms interact with Ms Thai said the novel chitin degrading in Phase 2 mushroom compost.
each other while both are growing at the bacterium, M. composti CP21.6, grew
same time.” “A direct association in vitro of
Pseudoxanthomonas and Mycothermus
shows that Mycothermus is boosting
the growth of Pseudoxanthomonas
and that the dominant species P.
taiwanensis does not halt the growth of
Mycothermus.

“This makes Pseudoxanthomonas
taiwanensis and Mycothermus very
compatible in mushroom compost,” Ms
Thai said.

The research project is scheduled to
be completed by July 2023. Further
information about the project will be
included in future editions of the Journal.

To examine that aspect, Mycothermus
was inoculated into a liquid medium on a
nylon mesh overlay, supported by glass
beads. Mycothermus was then grown at
50° for four days, after which a bacterial
culture was added and the two were
grown for a further ve days.

Ms Thai said this allowed observation
of the biological interaction occurring
between Mycothermus on the nylon
mesh and the bacterial culture in the
liquid medium underneath.

“The bacterial growth was monitored by
measuring the optical density daily, and

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 39

ESSENTIAL OILS

Assistant Research Professor interface problem, he said. He said his job was to look at how to
Department of Entomology suppress the mushroom phorid y
Penn State University Dr Wol n said the y population populations.
exploded after the repeal of diazinon in
2012. "The work was undertaken in three
phases – testing new insecticides in the
[email protected] "While growers were previously laboratory, eld trials and then nally
harvesting three breaks from one the adoption of the new insecticides."
If you have mushroom ies in large
numbers, you have problems. Whether ll, they found they were completely He explained that the rst fundamental
they are sciarids, phorids or cecids, the losing their third harvest due to the discovery for the project was
potential is there to signi cantly reduce mushroom phorid ies directly feeding electrostatic netting.
mushroom production in terms of both on the mushroom mycelia – and in such
quantity and quality. numbers that workers could not pick "This netting is statically charged,
because of the number of ies in the meaning that particles adhere to
rooms."

In Australia, the management and control
measures include pesticides, physical
exclusion and farm hygiene.

In the United States, research conducted
at Penn State University is now examining
novel methods to control mushroom y
populations on mushroom farms, using
essential oil products and natural attract
and kill stations. Dr Michael Wol n
presented the rst stage results of the
research at the recent International
Society of Mushroom Science conference.

The following article is based on that
presentation and subsequent discussion.

Dr Wol n set the scene for the
discussion by providing background on
the Pennsylvanian industry and the
pressures caused by urban development.

He said mushrooms are very important
in Pennsylvania, which produces 66%
of the total Agaricus product in North
America, valued at $548 million in the
2018/19 scal year. And while mushroom
phorid ies – Megaselia halterata
- constitute a signi cant pest on
mushroom farms, they are increasingly
a broader community issue with
housing developments moving closer
to existing farm areas. In fact, over 150
neighbourhoods reported y invasions
spanning 242 miles², highlighting the
issue as a classic urban agriculture

40 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

the screen. In addition to being an and it was noticed that the populations tested at SherRockee farms.
excellent delivery method for powdered did not completely die out over winter. "The layout for the growing rooms is
insecticides, the ies cannot walk Given that ies could enter the growing such that there is a single vent window
through this netting, making it an rooms from the outside, it meant they in each room on the back wall. The
exclusion method as well." could also move from room to room idea was to cover this window with the
without going outside." electrostatic screening treated with the
Dr Wol n said a bioassay was developed EcoViaTM WD insecticide."
to determine the mortality of di erent "So, what we decided to do was target
pesticides in the lab. the ports of exit and entry, coming "The insecticide was applied to the
from the growing rooms out into the screens and after ll and reapplied
"Using this measure, we tested a range environment, from the environment into weekly. Progress was monitored by
of di erent pesticides, exposing the ies the growing rooms, and in addition from counting the dead ies on or around the
to the treated netting for one minute room to room without going outside." window every other week."
and then noting the relevant mortality.
What we essentially found was that a lot He said the observations were then He said two weeks after the experiment
of pesticides are e ective at killing the started, the screen was covered in living
mushroom phorid ies."
ies, so the decision was taken to train
"Our ndings lead us to select a product workers to watch the y behaviour and
called EcoViaTM WD, a FIFA 25B exempt apply insecticide on an as-needed basis,
pesticide that is classi ed as a minimum according to the behaviour observed.
risk and approved for immediate use
on-farm." "Two weeks after starting this approach,
there were so many dead ies (about
Moving from the laboratory to the eld 900,000) collected in or around the
exposed a di erent range of questions, window screen that they had to be
including where and how to apply the estimated by weight."
insecticide, when to apply it, and how
often, he said. "Two weeks later again in another room,
there were about 6-700,000 dead ies in
Dr Wol n explained that as an insect or around the screen, highlighting that
behavioural ecologist, he looked at signi cant progress was being made.
these issues through the lens of insect And nally, a couple of weeks later, when
behaviour to turn studied actions into the screens were checked, there were
integrated pest management strategies. no ies on the screen, and we had a near
elimination of ies on the farm!"

"My observations were that the ies "It as a fantastic result, particularly
left the mushroom houses at night to given the experimental period was from
form mating swarms. The ies were also August through December, the peak y
entering speci c rooms after mating, season."

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 41

Dr Wol n said from an industry
perspective, mushroom yields increased
around 25% over the course of the
study, with the grower able to harvest
not only a third but also a fourth break
while using this method.

"Pleasingly nearby residents also
reported a decrease in y invasions over
this time."

"Given that the study took place over So as long as we can gure out a way now that we have tested this some more.
the time of peak y populations, I am to adapt these vent windows, it would Growers have found that placing clear
suggesting now to start the treatments work because the attracting methods are (bed) plastic on the outside portion of
early to prevent the buildup." everywhere on the farms. the window allows the growers to better
control their CO2 levels, and also lets
"We are also now working with ten The sun is always going to be shedding enough sunlight in to make the attract
di erent farm sites with the goal of light into the growing rooms, the and kill station attractive to the ies.
expanding to 30 farm sites by 2023. The mushrooms are always going to have
focus is on facilitating the adoption, not their odour, so the insects will always be HOW DO THESE
just of the insecticides, but also the new attracted. ELECTROSTATIC SCREENS
methods," Dr Wol n said. WORK? DO THEY ALLOW
So I think it can work, as long as the FLIES TO MOVE IN AND OUT
A nal note screens are up and employees apply the AFTER EXPOSURE FOR A
pesticide as often as it needs to be used. SPECIFIC TIME, OR ARE THEY
• These are attract and kill stations. TRAPPED?
They are designed to attract the ARE THESE ELECTROSTATIC
ies away from the crop and then SCREENS EXPENSIVE? The electrostatic screening is small. The
be dosed by the pesticide. ies are not able to walk through it, so
Compared to the material currently
• The strong attractant in the attract in place, they are expensive. However, they are excluded from the room. I have
and kill station is the natural the farmers I am working with are had growers state that they don’t have
sunlight from the outside.  looking to solve this problem, so a roll many ies, but the reality was they could
of the electrostatic screen to cover not see them because they were hiding in
• No pesticide is being applied to the thirtysomething windows costs about the compost.
crop at all. Pesticide is only being $200 (US).
applied to the window screen. When the windows were replaced, the
The screens can be used through two ies would crawl out of the beds to go to
One year after achieving near or three growing cycles, so spending up
elimination of phorid ies at SherRockee to $300 for 30 growing rooms is cost- the sunlight because this screening lets
farms, the methods have been expanded e ective. Most growers seem happy to more light in than the previous mesh. All
to 31 di erent farm sites and being used try it, although there is some hesitancy the ies would come from the beds to the
because of the history in using the windows, and they could not penetrate
in more than 580 growing rooms.  previous mesh material and the possible the netting.
need to maintain temperature and CO2.
Following the presentation, Dr Wol n From what we see, it could be that the
answered questions from delegates DO YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE ies are behaviourally trapped where
about the research. The following is an THAT THE SCREENS
edited transcript of this discussion. INFLUENCE THE CARBON they want to get to that light, or it could
DIOXIDE LEVELS IN THE be that they smell the odour and want
DO YOU THINK YOUR GROWING ROOM? to get inside – either way, they spend
SOLUTION COULD BE EASILY a lot of time on the screens to try to get
ADOPTED ON OTHER FARMS, This issue is not something we have through and they can’t.
IN OTHER COUNTRIES? examined yet. Some of the growers have
said they are having trouble maintaining The time on the screen doses them
I think so, and the reason is that all these the CO2 levels with this screening, so we with the pesticide. The process works
farms need to have these vent windows are working on ways to see if the levels particularly well on phorid ies as they
to control the temperature, at least here can be maintained using the new screens. tend to crawl rather than y.
in Pennsylvania, where I work.
Editors Note – following the presentation, The method could be less e ective on
Dr Wol n provided additional information sciarids, but it does work. We’ve found
for this question. The text is below. that phorids only need to be in contact
with the pesticide for as little as one
I actually have a follow-up to this answer minute to receive a lethal dose.

The key for sciarids would be to design a
trap to force them to walk on the surface
for one minute.

42 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 43

44 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Chair, Marsh Lawson Mushroom These projects could potentially focus WEBINAR SERIES
Research Centre Steering Committee on any number of issues including
creating demand for mushrooms, During 2021, Marsh Lawson Mushroom
0408 543 505 ensuring sustainability, delivering cost project (MU16004) presented a webinar
improvements, or address pest and disease series for the mushroom industry.
[email protected] problems.
International and local speakers,
In what has been a trying year, the To do all this, the committee recently including from the United Kingdom,
Steering Committee and management submitted to the SIAP a project that would South Africa, the United States and
team have continued to work with extend the MLMRU research work. China, reached audiences from around
industry and progress the development of the world on all topics mushroom from
a true centre of excellence for mushroom It is understood that the proposal gained pathogens and peat to COVID-19 and
research. a positive endorsement from the SIAP, and casings.
we are now waiting on consideration and
Our intention is that this centre operate hopefully approval from Hort Innovation. Recently, Dr Michael Kertesz from
in a manner that fosters international The University of Sydney provided
collaboration and ensures our industry I will keep you updated on this issue as a clarifying presentation on how
is kept abreast of the latest research and advice is received. the future will be improved by
development. understanding the fungal populations
The committee look forward to 2022 and their impact on yield and quality.
The committee has a genuine commitment and continued progress in the science of
to work to generate R&D projects that can growing mushrooms. Using revelations from their research
deliver real outcomes that can achieve the into mushroom production waste
best value for our levy dollars. streams, Dr Scott Needham and Kyle
Kessler from TGD explored commercially
viable approaches to utilising spent
mushroom compost or edible mushroom

waste either to reduce costs
or increase revenue.

Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore, a
fellow of the Australasian
Society of Lifestyle Medicine,
encouraged us during her
talk on healthy diets to
increase our Vit D levels by
leaving our mushrooms out
in the sun before cooking or
chopping.

Climate change was the
focus of Dr Jenny Ekman’s
webinar especially when it
comes to understanding and
managing the impacts of
climate change on Australian
mushroom production.

 The recordings of all
webinars in the series are
available. Please follow the
links in Table 1, or search the
AHR website www.ahr.com.
au for the recordings.

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 45

HORT INNOVATION
ROUNDUP

HORT INNOVATION Ms Bird welcomed the new Directors have made an impact on the ground. A
ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD and said the Board changes come at an copy can be downloaded at www.bit.ly/
DIRECTORS exciting time for industry. mushrooms-annual-report-21

Two new Directors have joined the Hort “Horticulture is the fastest-growing MUSHROOM INDUSTRY
Innovation Board, as the grower-owned agricultural sector in Australia – with STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
Rural Research and Development a 27 per cent hike in value over the PLAN
Corporation gears up for its next phase past ve years to $15.1 billion, and our
of growth. modelling shows that gure could Hort Innovation has released the
double by 2030,” Ms Bird said. updated Mushroom Industry Strategic
At the organisation’s virtual Annual Investment Plan (https://bit.ly/
General Meeting, voting members ANNUAL REPORTS mushroom-sip) highlighting how the
elected Catherine Oates and Robert AVAILABLE levy will be invested over the next ve
Mullins and re-elected Julie Bird to years.
the Hort Innovation Board. The newly As the grower-owned, not-for-pro t
constituted Board then voted that Julie research and development corporation In 2021, Hort Innovation worked closely
Bird would retain Chair, with Paul Harker for Australian horticulture, each year with growers and other industry
remaining in the Deputy Chair position. Hort Innovation invest millions of dollars stakeholders to refresh the documents
into critical R&D, extension, marketing that guide grower levy investment.

and international The 2022-2026 Strategic Investment
trade initiatives. Plan re ects the current needs and
The work aims to aspirations of the industry and provides
drive productivity, an overarching roadmap for the
pro tability and mushroom industry to follow.
demand for Aussie
horticultural This Plan explains how levy funds will be
products, and for invested over a twelve-month period,
the sector at large. with details on current investments
across R&D, marketing and international
To nd out trade.
more about
Hort Innovation For further explanation on how Hort
activities over the Innovation makes investment decisions
past 12 months, and how Strategic Investment Plans
please download and Annual Investment Plans will work
the company annual together to guide levy investment
report at www.bit. over the next ve years, please watch
ly/Hort-Annual- the video available at - www.bit.ly/
Report-21. mushroom-sip-video.

In addition to this, SARP SURVEYS OPEN FOR
Hort Innovation has INPUT
also released the
Mushroom Industry Growers are encouraged to contribute to
Annual Report, the 2021 Strategic Agrichemical Review
highlighting key Process (SARP) for mushrooms. The
project information SARP report for mushrooms assists in
from the year. The directing ongoing e orts to ensure the
Annual Report availability of and access to e ective
includes grower chemical controls for the mushroom
case studies industry and to address those needs and
examining how gaps.
levy investments

46 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021

Surveys are now available to growers to • All results. PROJECT INFORMATION
contribute to the process - https://bit.ly/ • Projects &  nal reports – now all
mushroom-sarp-survey-2021 A key component of the Journal is to
located together so that you can keep industry informed on the progress
NEW SEARCH EXPERIENCE lter and nd what you are looking of all levy-funded projects undertaken
ON THE HORT INNOVATION on their behalf. During the course of
WEBSITE for. 2021, project information has appeared
• Grower resources – a list of the regularly in the Journal.
The Hort Innovation website – www.
horticulture.com.au - now features project outputs produced for all The table below details project
a new homepage search block to industries. related coverage. If you are reading
encourage people to nd content by • News & media – media releases and an electronic or on-line copy of this
using search. The search results page articles. publication, simply click on the link to
now features four tabs allowing users access the story. If you have a printed
to lter the results. The tabs are based Hort Innovation welcomes feedback copy, the story can be accessed via the
on the most popular content on the on the new functionality to allow it short links provided in the text.
website, including: to optomise and ne-tune the search
capability. Any comments can be
sent via email to communications@
horticulture.com.au

Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021 47

MEET THE
MEMBER:

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE stuck. And now we have decided that WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE
YOU BEEN GROWING we need to learn how to really grow PASTIME?
MUSHROOMS? mushrooms.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST David enjoys restoring old tools, while
We have only been growing mushrooms STRENGTH / TALENT? I enjoy cooking and horses. As a tter
for a year, and before that we were We are both keen to learn, and it has and turner by trade, David is pretty
growing limes on our farm. The been a steep curve. Someone said it is handy and enjoys tinkering with things,
drought and low prices forced us to so he has a collection of manual drills,
all about learning to read mushroom chisels and the like he has restored,
nd something else. We went through signals, and this type of skill is not and they look really good. The plan is
a list of things, and we were interested available on the internet. We are city
in exotic mushrooms, but people who are now farmers, and with to put them on the wall of his
we thought the buttons and limes, we could nd information and ask workshop when he gets time.
the Swiss Browns would suit people. It is a little bit more challenging Now we have some acreage,
our area better. And there to do that with mushrooms. When we I love having a horse and nd
is no other mushroom farm started with limes, we jumped right in riding a lovely release from the
on the Fraser Coast. In terms and started farming. We did the same farm work. With my cooking,
of farming, before we left with mushrooms; we said we were going I love to bake, and I am a keen
Brisbane, a small herb garden to do it and jumped in – mistakes and sourdough maker. I try to be
was the only farming we had all – and are continuing to work it out as environmentally friendly, and I
done. we go along. make my toothpaste, cleaning
products, and sourdough bread,
WHAT IS THE MOST and we buy milk in bulk from a
DIFFICULT TASK local farmer that I put in glass
YOU HAVE HAD TO jars because I hate plastic
UNDERTAKE WHILE IN waste.
MUSHROOMS?
AS A STUDENT WHAT
As newcomers to the industry, DID YOU WANT TO
learning all about mushrooms DO AFTER YOUR
and how to grow them has SCHOOLING?
been a real challenge. We
talked to Marland Mushrooms David, who was in the
when we rst started, and Troy gas industry as a sales
Marland invited us down to representative and a tter,
see his setup. It was a bit overwhelming wanted to become a reman and I, a 25
because we couldn’t think about how we years Telstra employee covering various
could translate that setup to something roles, wanted to become a nurse. You
small that we could do. Later Neil could say that time got away from us,
Marland invited us to come and spend so we happily moved from the city and
a week with him, which was fabulous. It became farmers.
was hands-on; we got to pick a bit, deal
with the casing, and then go home and WHAT IS THE MOST
apply what we learned. After growing SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN YOUR
for a while, we just knew how to follow WHOLE CAREER SO FAR?
a program, and if things didn’t work
according to the program, we were Deciding to be farmers was undoubtedly

48 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 4 -2021