AUSTRALIAN MUSHROOMS JOURNAL - 2021 EDITION 3

Australian





MUSHR MS EDITION 3 - 2021




JOURNAL
JOURNAL


EDITION 3 - 2021

CONTENTSONTENTS
C








Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chairman’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Relationship & General Manager’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
AMGA Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Communications Manager Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Marketing Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Changed Approach to Mushroom Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Educating Health Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Educating The Food Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Can Mushrooms Lower Blood Cholesterol?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Farm Hygiene: Focus On Detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
MU16003: More Than Just Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Farm Laundry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
What Is Integrated Pest Management? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Is It Time To Revisit Fatty Acids? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Temperature Critical to Mushroom Quality & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Scoping Global Innovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Marsh Lawson Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Vale: Tony Biggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
AMGA: Meet The Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Hort Innovation Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50


Front Cover: Mushroom, Rice & Quinoa Salad
https://australianmushrooms.com.au/recipe/mushroom-rice-quinoa-
salad/

Inside Cover: Scrambled Eggs With Mushrooms
https://australianmushrooms.com.au/recipe/scrambled-eggs-with-
mushrooms/





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-
profi 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 3 -2021

EDITORIAL









Chris Rowley on the initiatives being
pursued on behalf of the
Editor, Australian Mushrooms Journal industry.

There have also
0415 140 253
been changes in the
[email protected] marketing, with Hort
Innovation discussing
the direction or
I would have given anything to be able activities with the
to start this column with the news that Association.
we are out of COVID lockdown but, sadly,
at least in New South Wales, we are This edition has two
still navigating our way to what they separate marketing
strangely term “the new normal.” stories. The fi rst is
an “annual report” on
And while we are all coping with activities undertaken.
COVID restrictions, there is still plenty The second covers a
happening in the industry – and I have presentation made by
packed as much as I can into this edition the Hort Innovation
of the Journal. Joint General Manager of Marketing,
Kylie Hudson, to the AMGA AGM and
At the risk of sounding like the outlines a changed approach for the fi rst focusing on educating the food
industry about the health benefi ts of
proverbial broken record, if you want to coming months. mushrooms and the second examining
know about how levy-funded projects the potential of mushrooms to lower
are progressing and what is happening In terms of levy-funded projects, the blood cholesterol.
in the industry, you should take some project team for MU16003 - Pest and
time to read through the information disease management and research There is also an update from the food
that is made available through a range services keeps delivering with a series safety project team with an article
of channels, including this Journal. of four articles containing plenty of looking at how temperature is critical to
practical advice that can be applied
The AMGA has been busy welcoming on-farm. mushroom quality and safety.
new Board members to the Association It is a large edition, with plenty to read,
at the recent Annual General Meeting. Health is a strong focus with the and if you have any feedback on the
The AMGA columns that head up this projects, with an update on the articles or would like to make some
edition highlight the broad range of activities being undertaken to suggestions for future editions, please
work undertaken by the Association, and educate health professionals and the let me know.
I am sure they would welcome feedback introduction of two new projects; the











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



















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Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021uuuuu tstststststststststtsttstststtststtttsttttttttttttttttttttttttttttsttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttrrrrrrrrrrrrarararararrrrrrarararararrrrarrrrrrrarrrrarrrararrrrrarararrrrraarrrrraaalllllililililililililllilililililiilililliiliililililililililiilililillililllililiililililiilililiililililiilililiilililililililililianananananaananannana

AMGA


CHAIRMAN’S




REPORT










Geoff Martin GLOBAL SHIPPING
ISSUES
Chairman, Australian Mushroom Growers’
Association I suspect every grower is
aware of the issues currently
aff ecting global shipping;
0415 542 301 shortages of containers and
[email protected] increased demand for sea
freight are impacting heavily
upon the cost per container
We have just moved into spring, and shipped from Europe.
some welcome warmer weather is on The ravages of Covid on
the horizon. dockworkers, shipping crews,
and the slow movement
Of course, the current major challenge through transhipment
to our industry is the continuing impact hubs, such as Singapore,
of the pandemic. The recent lockdowns are causing delays, adding to increased
in New South Wales and Victoria are transit times.
having a major impact upon growers, During the AMGA’s discussions with levy
both in terms of reduced activity in the While our casing suppliers are doing payers prior to and after the statutory
foodservice sector, the constant fear of everything possible to ensure casing levy vote, several questioned the value
Covid entering growing facilities and the requirements are met, it is as well of R&D to their businesses, indeed
management of staff to mitigate that growers are aware of the situation whether it was worthwhile in today’s
risk. of increased shipping costs and that climate even conducting research at all.
potential delays render a “just in time” Some of the disquiet was levelled at the
VACCINATION stock philosophy high risk. This global management of funds, not being aware
shipping crisis will persist for some time. of what R&D was being undertaken, and
What is happening in New South a perceived view that unless there was
Wales and Victoria is unfortunate as STRATEGIC INVESTMENT an immediate benefi t to their business,
mushroom sales have been strong PLAN why bother, as issues could be addressed
throughout the country over the winter using overseas’ expertise.
months. I know that many growers are The Mushroom Strategic Investment
wrestling with the ethical and legal Plan (SIP) for the next fi ve-year period, First, it should be remembered that
aspects surrounding whether they 2022-2026, will be released by Hort where we are today as an industry is a
mandate that their staff be vaccinated, Innovation shortly for review and direct consequence of the results from
as staff working together, especially approval by the Mushroom Strategic R&D conducted in the past. The AMGA
mushroom pickers, puts operations Industry Advisory Panel (SIAP). Hort has always been at the forefront of
at high risk. It is a great pity that the Innovation has engaged with levy this thrust. Our R&D matched funding
Federal Government hasn’t given fi rm payers, other interested parties, and arrangements are the envy of growers
direction regarding this important the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research worldwide, at a time when research
workplace issue, leaving it to individual Committee to gain an insight into facilities have closed or are under
businesses to make the call and take issues facing the industry. The aim is to pressure because of a lack of funding.
the risk of any adverse outcomes from a formulate high-level R&D investment
diffi cult commercial decision, one way or opportunities for our industry over the Our R&D levy monies support important
the other. next fi ve years. I want to thank everyone core projects which protect our industry
who took part in this important exercise. from reputational risk, pests and












2 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

disease, food safety and biosecurity HORT INNOVATION AMGA MARKETING
issues, as well as promulgating MARKETING
the health benefi ts of mushroom Leah Bramich, our Communications
consumption. Communication activities, Of course, Martine and I continue to Manager, also gave a presentation at the
including the quarterly Journal and our engage with Hort Innovation at every AGM, which outlined some very exciting
conferences (let’s hope we can hold one opportunity to advocate on behalf of marketing initiatives to be funded and
in 2022), are also funded by the R&D levy payers for improvements to the managed by the AMGA over the next
Levy. mushroom marketing and promotion twelve months. These will be very much
program. I was very pleased that Kylie BTL activities, plus a nationwide winter
Unfortunately, the current R&D funding Hudson, one of the newly appointed rollout of the very successful ‘Mushroom
model is fi rmly project-based and Hort Innovation joint marketing GMs, in Schools’ programme. In addition, The
does not support the establishment of accepted an invitation to present the Mushroom Lovers’ Club is back too! You
facilities or individual researchers. The 2021-22 marketing plan at our recent will fi nd all the details in Leah’s column
lack of capacity building and continuity Annual General Meeting. in this edition of the Journal.
in research capability does not bode well
in an uncertain world where we don’t One of the major pivots explained by AMGA BOARD
know the next threat to be faced. The Kylie was to move the ratio of marketing
AMGA will continue to support R&D, budget spend. This year the budget I want to thank all the Board Members
the researchers, delivery partners and was 87% for above the line activities from 2020/21 for their support over
ensure the mushroom industry is in the (ABL) and 13% for below the line (BTL) what has been a diffi cult full-on year.
best position to overcome the inevitable activities. It will now be adjusted to In particular, I would like to commend
challenges the future will bring. 56% ABL activities for 2021-22, with the those Directors who have stepped down
remainder (44%) spent on BTL activities. from the Board, Carmine Callisto, Phil
AMGA MEMBERSHIP Rogers and Kevin Tolson; thank you for
This is an important change in your valuable input; not forgetting the
For some time, the AMGA Board has emphasis of the marketing thrust and eff orts of our RGM, Martine Poulain,
worked toward having all mushroom has long been advocated for by the who continues to work tirelessly for the
levy payers as AMGA Members. AMGA. For those readers who do not Association.
Martine Poulain, our Relationship have a marketing bent, ABL includes
and General Manager (RGM), has widespread brand awareness building
managed to establish who all the such as television advertising, while BTL
Agaricus mushroom growers are in our is highly targeted towards persuading
industry. The Board agreed to allow shoppers to purchase mushrooms at the
all non-member levy payers to enjoy point of sale, for example.
the benefi ts of being a member of the
Association by waiving the membership The planned marketing thrust will also
fee for the 2021-22 year. In addition, build nutrient and health credentials,
the AMGA put forward a proposal to make Australian mushrooms a staple
amend the Food Safety project to enable ingredient, win in retail and embrace the
every levy payer to use the industry- foodservice sector. There is still a long
led mushroom residue testing service way to go, but the AMGA will continue
free of charge once annually - this was to engage with the Hort Innovation
approved by Hort Innovation. marketing team to improve the levy
spent in this area.


















Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 3

AMGA


RELATIONSHIP




& GM’S REPORT










Martine Poulain businesses, so if there
is anything your peak
Relationship & General Manager, industry body can do to
Australian Mushroom Growers’ help, please reach out.
Association
BEST PRACTICE
GUIDES
0457 440 298
[email protected] Thank you to all the
AMGA grower members
who have sent back their
Hello industry members,
checklists. These were
sent along with your Best
As I write this column a few days after Practice Guides in July.
the AMGA Annual General Meeting, I’m The Board - in continuing
thrilled to be announcing our new Board to ensure the mushroom
for the next 12 months.
brand is protected -
h hesese e
approved the inclusion of these
BOARD AND AGM
checklists with the Guide so we
o o w we e
g g hehelplp
could assist anyone needing help
Judy Allan, Nick Femia and Dr Jenny with testing or food safety compliance.
y y cocompmplilianancece. .
Ekman are all new additions and are If you need further clarifi cation on
t tii
joining previous Board members, anything relating to these checklists,
Jaylon Rogers, Robert Tolson, Mick please let me know.
Surridge, Phil Higgins, Dr Geoff Martin,
and Georgia Beattie. Diversity is so AMGA PROJECTS
important at board level, and I’m looking
forward to working with these nine As mentioned in my last column, the
industry professionals. A comprehensive AMGA has won some exciting industry
update on their backgrounds can be projects funded by your levies, which
found on the AMGA website.
allows us to have control and oversight
every step of the way. We will continue
If you couldn’t attend the AGM, a to update you on their progress within
recording was sent to our members, so our communications channels.
please advise if you didn’t receive one.
It included two presentations: the fi rst COMMUNICATIONS
from AMGA communications manager
Leah Bramich, and the second, from Hort Our aim within our AMGA
Innovation marketing general manager communications team is to amplify the
Kylie Hudson – both are well worth Hort Innovation marketing campaigns,
viewing!
and these next few months will see the
delivery of some fantastic programs
PANDEMIC IMPACT
running over the summer.
With most of the country in lockdown, A lot is happening within our
I was unable to visit members as I had communications team, but Leah Bramich
hoped these last few months, and like will update you in her column.
you, I assume, I am frustrated at this
never-ending pandemic.
My door is always open - so please
contact me anytime to discuss industry
I know some of you are undoubtedly concerns or to say hello.
struggling with its’ impact on your





4 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

The Australian Mushroom Industry Best Practice Guide is FREE for all AMGA

members. Check your letterbox for your hard copy, or view and download from:






Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 5

AMGA BOARD







The following directors form the elected Board of Directors of the Australian Mushroom Growers’ Association.





Dr Geoff Martin

Dr Mush Advisory, AMGA Chair & Director

Geoff has been involved in the international mushroom industry for over 37 years;
he has managed and directed operations at a range of composting and mushroom
companies in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Botswana, New Zealand and
Australia. Until recently, he was the General Manager of Mushroom Composters
based in New South Wales, a position he held since 2001. In late 2018 Geoff decided to
step back from the daily grind of running a composting operation, embraced semi-
retirement and set up his own mushroom consultancy business, Dr Mush Advisory.



Robert Tolson
Premier Mushrooms, AMGA Treasurer & Director

Robert is the owner of Premier Mushrooms. The farm grows two rooms per week
of Phase 3 compost. He is a Director of Sylvan Australia and Director shareholder of
White Prince.








Mick Surrid
ScatoPlus, AMGA Deputy Chair & Director

Mick Surridge studied agricultural science at Dookie College and has a background in
mycology and engineering with over 30 years in the mushroom industry. He is a co-
founder, director and shareholder of ScatoPlus, established in 1996 and has over 70
employees, supplies mushroom compost throughout Australia and in Asia and Pacifi c
Island countries. He is a shareholder and Director of Bulla Park, Australia’s largest
producer of Organic Agaricus and Pleurotus mushrooms. Mick is a past Chairman
of the Australian Mushroom Growers’ Association and is currently one of Hort
Innovation’s Strategic Industry Advisory Panel advisors.

Georgia Bea ie

Bulla Park, AMGA Deputy Chair & Director

As a new generation of farmer, Georgia specialises in high-performance farming,
embracing the use of technology and innovation to achieve fast growth and scale in
agriculture.

Georgia began her career in the startup space, founding wine packaging business
Lupé Wines in 2010. The company created innovative IP to manufacture a single-
serve glass of wine and raised venture capital to expand quickly into events, hotel
minibars and airlines across Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong.
The company was acquired in 2016. Prior to this, Georgia spent a period in the tech
industry as CEO of Realestate.com’s new venture, Spacely, as well as CEO of Startup
Victoria. Georgia is also a non-executive Director of Rowing Australia and Second
Bite and on the Law Squared advisory board.



6 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

Nick Femia

SA Mushrooms, AMGA Director

Nick has been an AMGA member for 23 years and previously spent 13 years on the
AMGA board and was the South Australian state director for three years. He has
been instrumental in shaping the industry, having held positions on the AMSAFE
program, the Mushroom Industry Advisory Committee, the AMGA Marketing
Subcommittee, Hort Innovation Strategic Industry Advisory Panel, and various
mushroom project reference groups. He also spent time on the Horticulture Coalition
committee of South Australia. Nick and his family started SA Mushrooms in 1998.
The farm has recently expanded to include a state of the art compost yard and
a wholesale mushroom store in the South Australian Produce Markets - which
distributes SA Mushrooms Australia-wide. This fully integrated business now has
over 120 employee’s on three sites.Nick is excited to be back on the AMGA board and
giving back to the industry and believes that his most important role is to look after
growers’ interests, both large and small operators, in an equitable manner.

Phil Higgins

Parwan Valley Mushooms, AMGA Director

Phil is the CEO of Parwan Valley Mushrooms, with 35 years of operational and
General Management experience in manufacturing across a variety of industries,
including Petro-Chemical, Aircraft and Food Packaging, where he was responsible
for six sites across Australia and New Zealand with a turnover of $400M per annum.
Phil has a Masters degree in Business Administration and experience with complex
organisations.

Jaylon Ro rs

Revitalise Enterprises, AMGA Director

Jay is the General Manager at Revitalise Enterprises. He has been around mushrooms
all his life - growing up and working on his parents’ farm (P&L Rogers) in South
Australia. To gain experience outside the farm, Jay obtained a Bachelor of Civil &
Structural Engineering and has held several roles within this fi eld, working on major
bridge projects in a project engineering capacity over fi ve years. Jay re-joined the
mushroom industry in 2017, taking up a signifi cant role in a multi-million dollar
project to build a new compost facility at Port Wakefi eld. Using a combination of
his engineering and industry knowledge, the new yard is a state-of-the-art facility,
using the latest technologies (including NIR analysing equipment) to deliver real-time
monitoring and management of all aspects of compost production.

Dr Jenny Ekman

Applied Horticultural Research, AMGA Director
Dr Jenny Ekman is a horticultural researcher and science communicator with
a longstanding passion for mushrooms. As a postharvest scientist, she has
investigated modifi ed atmosphere packaging, Vitamin D production, ways to
keep mushrooms whiter longer and food safety for mushrooms. Jenny hosts the
mushroom webinar series and is actively involved with the Marsh Lawson Mushroom
Research Unit.

Judy Allan

Life Honorary Member, AMGA Director

Judy worked from 1982-88 as the Mushroom Industry Advisory Offi cer in the NSW
Department of Agriculture before becoming a private consultant working at farm
and industry levels. Since 1992 Judy has been a project leader or team member in
multiple funded projects, including Mushroom Picking Practices, Training, Pest
and Disease Management, and AMGA Journal Editor. She has also served on many
industry committees and was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the AMGA in
2003.




Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 7

AMGA


COMMUNICATIONS




MANAGER REPORT










Leah Brami for inclusion in our
Mushroom Lovers
Communications Manager, Australian Club (21k subscribers)
Mushroom Growers’ Association monthly e-mail
marketing, the AMGA
website, social media,
0450 504 675
and also shared
[email protected] within monthly media
releases. These new
and exciting mushroom
Spring is here, and the weather is recipes will fall in line
starting to warm up, which means the with the AMGA PR
home cooks recipe repertoire is moving eff orts – for example,
away from soups and stews in favour of mushrooms and gut
lighter dishes. Here lies the challenge for health articles will be
mushrooms to remain in the shopping paired with pickled
basket for the warmer months. mushrooms and other
o oomomss
recipes featuring mushrooms
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY with whole grains or high fi bre
h h fi fi brbre e
foods.
If you did not attend the AMGA Annual
General Meeting, you would have The recipe developer is also working
ki ki
l l
missed the announcement that the on a collection of ‘blended’ mushrooms mushroom growing kits, lesson plans
Association is now funding a $200,000 and mince recipes, which will be used and resources, is focused on teaching
communications strategy for the throughout The Blend launch campaign students in Years 3 and 4 about the
next fi nancial year. This is a relatively on our website, and showcased in a mushroom life cycle. The program
small budget for a national strategy; recipe e-book to encourage consumers teaches how fungi are diff erent to
therefore, it’s important we spend it to enter our summer competition. plants, and encourages students to
wisely for the greatest impact. With grow, harvest and eat mushrooms. This
consultation from the AMGA marketing These recipes and high-resolution early intervention is designed to expose
sub-committee, I’m pleased to outline images will be made available to you students to mushrooms and encourage
the strategy for you in this article. should you wish to use them in your own their consumption while also getting
mushrooms into the family grocery
local marketing initiatives. basket and ultimately creating lifetime
It is important to note that the AMGA
communications strategy will be MUSHROOMS IN SCHOOLS – customers. You can read more about the
deployed alongside Hort Innovation’s NATIONAL ROLLOUT program on the AMGA website: https://
marketing and promotion campaign bit.ly/AMGA-SCHOOL-PROGRAM
bursts and will assist in amplifying the The national rollout of the AMGA
“Add the Mighty Mushie” key message, Mushrooms in Schools program has To keep costs to a minimum, the AMGA
primarily from a health and nutrition an ambitious target of engaging 200 is currently seeking a delivery partner to
perspective. classrooms over winter next year, facilitate the delivery of the mushroom
growing kits to schools. If you know
which will directly involve 6,000
RECIPE DEVELOPMENT students across four states in hands-on anyone who may be able to help provide
this service free of charge, please get in
mushroom education. touch with me.
The AMGA has contracted a recipe
developer and food stylist for the The program, which delivers free
next 12 months to create new recipes











8 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

Jane Freeman Adrian Richardson


AMGA DIETITIAN – JANE THE BLEND – AUSTRALIAN • Independent retailer in-store
FREEMAN LAUNCH activation & competition - In
conjunction with Fresh Markets
We are pleased to announce the The AMGA is launching The Blend in Australia’s “A Better Choice”
appointment of Jane Freeman as the Australia over Summer this year, with a program, the AMGA will engage
AMGA resident dietitian for the next national campaign promoting “Summer 240+ independent greengrocers
12-months. Jane is an internationally Blended Burgers”. The campaign, which across Queensland, New South
regarded and very experienced dietitian is currently being fi nalised by the AMGA Wales, South Australia and Victoria
and nutritionist (APD, APN), is an IOC marketing sub-committee, will include: with instore marketing collateral
(International Olympic Committee) to promote The Blend and the
qualifi ed sports nutritionist, and an • PR – With our AMGA Dietitian Jane competition.
award-winning author. Freeman, we will introduce The
Blend concept to mainstream media • Through digital marketing and in-
She is currently a practising dietitian for to promote the health benefi ts of store point of sale, consumers will
general dietetic advice and director for using a mince + mushroom blend in be invited to enter the “Summer
CANutriton, a cancer specialist nutrition recipes. The Blend PR will continue Burger Competition,” to download a
practice across the road from the Mater throughout the promotion. blended recipe e-book and enter to
Hospital in North Sydney. win one of 10 Weber Baby Q’s.
• Ambassador - Celebrity chef Adrian
As a known media personality, Jane Richardson, the owner of La Luna AMGA AGM RECORDING
resonates well with our target audience Bistro in Melbourne and star of TV
– grocery buyers and home cooks, and shows ‘Good Chef Bad Chef’ and Finally, if you missed the AMGA
as a Dietitians Australia spokesperson, ‘Secret Meat Business’, has been Annual General Meeting, you can
she is well respected by dietetic and appointed as the ambassador for watch the recording in the news
nutrition professionals and those in the The Blend launch. His appointment section on the AMGA website - https://
broader health care industry. will help reassure our Aussie meat- australianmushroomgrowers.com.
eater audience that blending fi nely au/amga-members-annual-general-
She brings with her a wealth of diced mushrooms with mince is the meeting-2021/.
nutritional knowledge, experience on healthier way to cook, and it doesn’t
camera and media connections, along change the meaty fl avour. Adrian Please note, you must be logged in to
with a passion for mushrooms. We are will feature throughout the PR view the AMGA Updates.
looking forward to working with Jane campaigns and how-to videos.
and creating monthly PR strategies to
promote mushrooms for their myriad of
unique health benefi ts.  










Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 9

MUSHROOM






MARKETING


















Hort Innovation is responsible for TELEVISION grocery buyers between the ages of
investing the mushroom marketing 25 and 54, with viewers seeing the
levy into a range of activities to drive To drive mass awareness for the new advertisement an average of nine times.
frequency of purchase and consumption, mushrooms TV commercials on free-
under the Hort Innovation Mushroom to-air TV and catch up TV platforms Based on the latest brand and campaign
Fund. The following is a snapshot of were used as part of the wider media study, free-to-air television was the
activities and results from 2020/21. campaign. number one driver of campaign recall
among consumers.
It was a big year for the mushroom The TV advertisement was played
marketing program in 2020/21 with the during popular programs across Catch up TV enabled Australian
launch of a new creative campaign, ‘Add Channel 7 and 10, such as The Project, Mushrooms to reach 2.4 million people
the Mighty Mushie’. MasterChef, 7 News, 10 News and The at an average frequency of 1.6 times.
Amazing Race. The completion rate of viewing the TV
The new campaign positioned commercial was at 98%, 3% higher than
mushrooms as a unique superfood that The campaign reached 2.2 million the benchmark of 95%.
provided a wealth of specifi c health
benefi ts and a rich umami fl avour –
giving clear reasons to consume more
mushrooms, more often.
It was amplifi ed through an integrated
campaign using media, public relations,
social media, and retailer activities.
MEDIA

Overall, the media campaign reached 96
per cent of Australian grocery buyers
aged 25-54, exceeding the KPI set by
14%.
Catch up TV enabled Australian Mushrooms to reach 2.4 million people.

























10 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021





MUSHROOM MARKETING





Kylie Hudson

Hort Innovation Joint General
Manager of Marketing




[email protected]


In recent months the mushroom industry
has engaged in ongoing discussions
with Hort Innovation over its marketing
program. The following is based on a
report from the Hort Innovation Joint
General Manager of Marketing, Kylie
Hudson, to the recent AMGA Annual
General Meeting.

Earlier this year the Hort Innovation
marketing team took several
recommendations about the mushroom
marketing program to the Strategic In the latest 52 weeks mushrooms have exceeded total vegetable performance with volume
Industry Advisory Panel (SIAP).
sales (kg) up +6.1% and value sales increasing +11.6% year on year.
The Panel provided its input on the
marketing activity, and a number of more and look at the plans. Ms Hudson said in terms of purchase
subsequent changes have now been behaviour, half the shoppers are planned
made to address industry concerns. “In terms of performance, we shoppers, buying to meet meals plans,
recognised that over the past 12 with the remaining half shopping
Ms Hudson said it was clear from her months, mushrooms outpaced category more impulsively in a less planned
discussions with the AMGA that the growth. Comparing mushrooms to manner that provides a higher ability to
industry was looking for a changed vegetables – which is the category in infl uence.
approach. which consumers shop for mushrooms –
highlights this growth.” “Those planned shoppers need to be
“What we heard was that industry has reached with pre-store consideration
some big goals in growing volume and “In terms of dollars spent year-on- and with meal inspiration. The others
that the marketing activity was not year vegetables grew at 8%, while need to be prompted in-store with
commercial enough and was somewhat mushrooms grew at 11.6%. And in terms messaging that cuts through as they
disconnected to industry.” of volume growth, the total vegetable push their trolley through the store.”
category was growing at 4.7%, and
“The feeling was that the approach mushrooms were growing at 6.1%.” She explained the analysis was all about
emphasised big brand building and determining how to infl uence specifi c
above the line communications but She said the most signifi cant shift was in customers, which then impacted how
did not have enough sales-driving average dollar spend, which had gone up the marketing budget is spent.
communications. We also heard the about $5 year-on-year.
opinion that the meal focus was too With the previous budget split weighted
highbrow for typical household meal “While the average weight of purchase to 87% on above the line advertising and
preparations.” was only slightly up, the dollar spend 13% on below the line in-store activities,
per average purchase was up, which was the research presented an opportunity
Ms Hudson said the other issues raised good.” to make a change.
included not dialling up the most unique
and distinct nutrition claims, the “In terms of sales, supermarkets were Ms Hudson said as a rule of thumb,
removal of tactical fi ghting funds, and a up across the board, with Woolworths experts tend to agree that the
“one size fi ts all” approach that did not outpacing everyone else and taking marketing budget split should be around
allow for regional fl exibilities. sales from greengrocers, independents 60% to brand building and 40% to sales-
and the like.” driving activities.
Our fi rst step, she said, was to dig a little



Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 13

“This strong awareness and that we need to keep, and how the
WEEKLY MEAL PLANNERS
comprehension are delivering the most approach can be brought together in the
eff ective mushroom ad we have had new strategy.”
since 2016.”
Tend to plan out the
51% meals they’re eating “From a marketing perspective, we
each week
She said people also like the ad and are start with the business objectives – to
taking out the right messages. increase domestic consumer demand for
57% 46%
mushrooms – and then we try and turn
Engaged Disengaged “Our analysis shows the ad has a high that into a specifi c consumer objective,
Cooks Cooks
enjoyment factor (81%) and a high understanding the type of behaviour we
WE NEED TO REACH THIS GROUP WITH RELEVANT MEAL relevance score (74%). So this essentially need to infl uence with our marketing
INSPIRATION PRIOR TO ENTERING STORE means that people are quite positive, messages.”
and they feel like the ad is talking to
IMPROMPTU COOKS them in a relevant manner.” She said the consumer objective is to
make Australian mushrooms a staple
“The great thing is that the campaign ingredient in Australian homes.
is driving the intended message with
Tend to only think about
what they will cook for 49% positive increases in the perception that To do that, she explained, we need to
today and tomorrow
mushrooms are tasty and nutritious.” consider what they might think today
43% 54% and then again what we want them
And while the message is being received, to think after being infl uenced by our
Engaged Disengaged
Cooks Cooks she said there is still room to strengthen marketing.
the nutritional claims.
“Right now, we know that 80% of
WE NEED TO PROMPT PURCHASE INSTORE WITH THIS GROUP
“There has been a fair bit of work in households purchase mushrooms, but
this area over the past year, but we are they tend to use them for a few classic
Impulse purchasing is high and requires the continuing to strengthen the nutritional meals - typically stroganoff or bolognese
right approach to reach diff erent shoppers.
claims to drive consideration and - as part of a regular repertoire of home-
reappraisal of mushrooms.” cooked meals. What we want them to do
“Changing the budget was one aspect, is to consider and use mushrooms more
but we also want to make sure that the “This work is all about determining often, as part of even more meals.”
actual advertising was working. We the most relevant health messages
found the advertising is being noticed, about mushrooms that can be used to “And when we are designing activity and
with 32% of people recalling the ad, infl uence consumers to purchase more advertising messages, we typically look
versus the norm of just 23%.” mushrooms.” at the opportunity. We believe the best
opportunity is with those people in the
“People are also comprehending the Ms Hudson said the marketing plan 25 to 55-year-old age group who enjoy
message, with 77% saying they are taken to the SIAP directly resulted from cooking and who are health-conscious.”
more likely to purchase mushrooms off the review process outlined.
the back of the campaign, which is good “In our mind, we picture somebody that
news.” “We have been very careful in looking takes care to add those extra nutrients
at the marketing plan, assessing those to their meals because they can see a
parts that need to change and others benefi t. And our job is to inspire those



14 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

people so mushrooms are a staple, and
they are regularly buying to have with
the meal being put on the table tonight.”

Ms Hudson said the clear business
objective is to increase consumer
demand for Australian mushrooms.
“In terms of consumer behaviour that
we can infl uence with our marketing,
our focus is to make mushrooms a
staple ingredient in Australian homes
by driving increase consideration and
frequency of purchase.”

“To deliver results, we are looking
to drive top of mind awareness by
giving consumers a message they
can recall and understand. This including television and radio. It is product demonstrations and sampling
approach is complemented by building about placing the message with are not possible.
up mushrooms nutrition and health people at the right time, so they
credentials, so consumers understand think immediately about using “As an alternative, we are looking to
the benefi ts of adding them to meals.” mushrooms in tonight’s dinner. take those funds and buying into retail
e-commerce platforms to be top of the
“We also need to ensure we are winning • The second pillar focuses on page when it comes to online searches
in retail, so making mushrooms easy to benefi ts and why consumers want and basket fi lling through the online
fi nd and buy, and removing the reasons to choose mushrooms. It is about shop.”
not to purchase them in the retail educating people about the unique
environment.” benefi ts and inspiring them to use “Shopping behaviour in this area has
them more often to get those extra accelerated four times more quickly than
The fi nal element, she said, is to increase nutrients and dietary rewards. even retailers anticipated because of
the focus of mushroom consumption in COVID and lockdowns, so if we can’t be
the foodservice channel. • The third pillar is working with physically present, then being virtually
retailers to ensure that mushrooms present in such a highly used space is
Ms Hudson said the review by the SIAP are easy to fi nd and easy to buy the next best thing.”
reinforced support for the successful to capitalise on impulse purchase
‘Add the Mighty Mushie’ campaign opportunities. This approach is Ms Hudson said the foodservice plan
and allowed some fi ne tuning of the about visibility, elements like was also obviously aff ected by COVID
approach. product demonstrations and movement restrictions.
sampling, and maximising the
“The additional fi ne-tuning is all about available impact from the online “The restrictions are not everywhere,
weighing up the weight of investment shopping environment through so given this is a new pillar in the
in retail and tactical grassroots support sponsorship packages to place plan, we are looking to move ahead in
and looking at how the money is moved mushrooms in front of consumers. those states with fewer restrictions
around to be able to respond when and using that as a test and learning
required tactically.” • The fourth pillar is foodservice, opportunity. Our intention is to trial the
focusing on cafes, where foodservice program and then scale it
“We also want to bring in the unique mushrooms will look to create up as restrictions start to ease across
health claims more to the forefront a signature dish, with support Australia.”
of communications and increase the off ered through PR activities.
focus of mushroom consumption in the The opportunity is to have people She explained that grassroots events
foodservice channel.” try the dish in a café setting and and demonstrations had been aff ected
regularly encourage consumption similarly to foodservice.
“Importantly, we brainstormed the at home.
overall activity and reconsidered the “Our approach in this area will be to
weighting of activity across each pillar The revised marketing plan has a budget start where we can with activities and
and looked at the most eff ective split of just over $3 million and has been then roll it out more broadly when
between the brand building, and short- weighted at 56% for above the line restrictions are lifted,” she said.
term sales-driving.” activities and 44% for grassroots below
the line activities. Further updates on the marketing
The revised approach consists of the program will be included in upcoming
following elements: Ms Hudson said some elements of the editions of the Journal and through the
plan had been impacted by COVID, monthly Industry Update newsletter.
• The fi rst pillar is the “add the particularly in the retail area.
mighty mushie” campaign – the
creative and integrated media plan “With COVID, there are a lot of
delivered through various channels, restrictions currently, so things like




Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 15

EDUCATING HEALTH





PROFESSIONALS





IN A COVID WORLD








Ju a Wright SENTIMENT RESEARCH "GPs, dietitians and naturopaths are
dealing with people every day who want
Project Manager "One of the big things that we found a more natural approach to health, so if
from the sentiment research was that we can give them something of value to
0402 315 969 we are hitting the mark with messaging pass back to the consumer, then that is a
[email protected] about mushrooms. The healthcare good thing."
professionals are getting the messages,
and they can name the benefi ts, with The consumer brochure provided
The fi nal year of the levy-funded project increasing numbers recommending healthcare professionals with
– Educating healthcare professionals mushrooms to clients." information to share with their patients
about Australian mushrooms – has not on practical ways to increase their
been without its challenges, with COVID In addition to that, she said the vitamin D intake. This is highly relevant
restrictions forcing changes to the research highlighted some additional with one in four Australians defi cient in
timetable of planned activities. Despite opportunities. vitamin D. The brochure provided details
this, the project team has progressed on pros and cons of sun, supplements
signifi cantly, directing attention to "Healthcare professionals love the and food and how eating three sun-
showcasing that there is more to resources and the ways in which the exposed mushrooms can help, providing
mushrooms than just nutrition. science has been translated in an over 100% of the daily vitamin D needs.  
engaging manner. What they are now
Since completing the second Audience calling out for is to help them further SHIFTING DIRECTION
Sentiment Survey in 2020, which by providing materials that are suitable
found an increased understanding of and helpful for them to use in educating Ms Wright said COVID had signifi cantly
mushrooms' nutritional properties consumers." impacted the project, resulting in
and health benefi ts, the project team several changes to how information has
completed a range of activities. "Developing those materials and making been delivered to health professionals.
them available is the logical next step
Project Manager Jutta Wright from in supporting health professionals "Originally, the plan was to participate
Nutrition Research Australia (NRAUS) to communicate consumer-friendly in the Australasian Society of Lifestyle
said the strong survey results had set messages as part of their day-to-day Medicine conference; however, the
the foundation for this year's activities activities." conference was cancelled. We were also
such as the development of a consumer looking at the collateral and considered
brochure, digital communication Ms Wright said it was all about making from the sentiment survey that while
campaign, completion of the White the job of health professionals as easy as we needed to target naturopaths, we
Paper and naturopath targeted webinar. possible. didn't need specifi c materials designed
for them."




















The Healthcare professionals brochure delivered some simple messages for mushrooms



16 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

"So what we did was to replace an in diff erent fi elds, including nutrition Australian Dietary Guidelines will be
originally planned naturopath brochure research, food science, indigenous key. These evidence-based guidelines
with a healthcare professional culture and culinary nutrition, to are the gold standard for healthcare
consumer-focused brochure instead. discuss the role of fungi, and specifi cally professionals in communicating and
And instead of the conference, common edible mushrooms in a healthy educating on what the population should
we have shifted focus to a digital diet. be eating for health."
communications campaign."
Ms Wright said the White Paper delivers Ms Wright said she was confi dent
The digital campaign will be two- a range of key messages that highlight that mushrooms could achieve a
pronged with a sponsored editorial the unique nature of mushrooms. new positioning within the dietary
article delivering a topical vitamin D guidelines.
story through a GP magazine plus a "The great thing from the Roundtable
wider healthcare professional lead is that there was an agreement of the "At the moment, mushrooms are just
generation campaign conducted through need for a stronger focus for mushrooms considered as one of the fi ve vegetables
LinkedIn. Additional activities will be in dietary guidance." consumers should have each day, and
conducted through targeted healthcare while consumers consider them as
professional social media channels, DIETARY GUIDELINES vegetables, they are neither a vegetable,
encouraging the download of specifi c plant or even an animal."
mushroom materials. "Looking forward, if we are going to
have mushrooms in their rightful place, "The Roundtable discussion included
The LinkedIn campaign will drive then getting their unique nutrition and the consideration for greater guidance
downloads of mushroom resources and health benefi ts acknowledged in the about their unique benefi ts, similar
assist in building the project database, upcoming review and revision of the to how legumes and nuts are treated
delivering longer-term benefi ts in within the Dietary Guidelines."yy
opening up further communication with
health professionals.

Ms Wright said the digital campaign
off ered the potential to reach a high
potential pool of people.

"There is no doubt that the conference
had the potential to deliver high impact
and strong conversion, but you are
dealing with only a low percentage of
the total healthcare professionals in
Australia. The digital approach exposes
the mushroom messages to potentially
more people over a longer time, which
makes it an eff ective substitute for the
originally planned event," she said.

WHITE PAPER

The project has also recently delivered a
White Paper compiled after the Expert
Roundtable, held in November 2020.
The event comprised a group of experts The White Paper highlighted the uniqueness of mushrooms.



Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 17

"Part of the approach is to not only talk
about the fact we should be consuming
mushrooms more regularly, but also
explaining the recommended serve size,
which is essentially a cupful of uncooked
mushrooms, one portobello mushroom,
or about three cup mushrooms."
In the same way that consumers
understand the need to have three
serves of dairy per day or a handful of
nuts, the mushroom industry needs
to get across what the research is
saying about what a serving size is for
mushrooms, she said.
"With the upcoming review of the
Australian Dietary Guidelines, the time
is ripe to talk to policymakers and
health professionals, and to give them
an overview of the science and drive
those conversations about mushrooms
being given more focus in the dietary The White Paper highlighted some of the science behind mushrooms and human health eff ects
guidelines going forward."
Ms Wright said dietary guidelines in the through education, we have also talked
future are likely to look to foods that about food as being more than just
"Other foods such as nuts and legumes
have done a good job, and it is now address chronic disease and support nutrition; it is also about taste. In talking
important to get mushrooms top of immune function, and mushrooms are about the umami taste of mushrooms
mind using the evidence-based science well placed in this regard. driving fl avour in food, we were able
we have at hand." to show how the culinary benefi ts also
DIETITIANS UNITE infl uence health, because food is only
good if it is eaten," she said.
Ms Wright said bringing the evidence to
light will let the story about mushrooms Another element of the project that has
tell itself. been completed since the last report With celebrity "foodie" Alice Zaslavsky
is the Dietitians Unite event. Initially leading the way and drawing people into
scheduled in 2020, the event was the event, the online class delivered a
"Things like the Scientifi c Literature
Review completed last year provides delayed before eventually taking place lovely mushroom steak on a bed of peas,
a solid foundation to push mushrooms through a virtual platform. creating impact and engagement in a
forward in the dietary guidelines." memorable fashion.
"While the delays were disappointing, in
the end we still held a breakfast session. Ms Wright said the Q&A session at the
"Over the last couple of decades, there
has been a lot of focus within the dietary Ironically we would have expected to end of the demonstration provided
guidelines on chronic disease. With the have some 60-70 people in attendance, an ideal opportunity to talk about the
current re-emergence of infectious but because we were able to open it up barriers to vegetable consumption and
disease, there is increased discussion in the virtual environment, 226 people how they can be overcome.
among healthcare professionals attended, which was great. Being fi lmed
about nutrients and foods to support also allows it to be viewed by others "The intention was to make the
immunity." who could not attend." dietitians think about how to inspire
clients with cooking and culinary tips,
"While the number of attendees is as part of their way towards behaviour
She said the importance of vitamin D
has become a hot topic, with literature wonderful, the feedback also indicated it change, and I think we achieved that."
highlighting its ability to help improve was a real success, with 96% of people
resistance to infection, particularly reporting it as excellent." A secondary benefi t was the number of
respiratory infections. people who signed up to the database
Ms Wright said the joint seminar with for future communications. The event
Simplot provided the opportunity to talk featured fi ve prize packs, where the
"Vitamin D has come through the
literature because of its integral role in about vegetables and mushrooms. lucky participants got a chopping
supporting a healthy immune system." board, an apron, a cookbook from Alice
"We know people are not eating enough Zaslavsky, and a special bag to store
vegetables, and that is one message. We their mushrooms.
"Preliminary research is showing that
people with lower levels of vitamin D were also able to pull mushrooms away
are had a greater risk of COVID-19, so from vegetables and give dietitians the Ms Wright said the approach
there is a lot of interesting discussion message to think about mushrooms encouraged 25% of participants to sign
around immunity and mushrooms are independently and separate them from up to the database, which is well above
relevant here with their natural vitamin the normal fi ve serves a day approach to the expected numbers.
D content." vegetables."
"Having increased numbers of health
"In building up the health benefi ts professionals on the database is one of



18 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

take care to ensure that they deliver with medicinal health benefi ts of exotic
resources that are appropriate and mushrooms, our approach is to let them
valued by health professionals. For know what is going on with the science
recipients, our emails are an easy way to and reacquaint them with everyday
keep them up-to-date with the science." common Australian mushrooms. By
teaming up with the Olive Wellness
Ms Wright said the project was widening Institute for this event, we are focusing
its reach to naturopaths with a webinar on immunity and immune function,
in September - a joint initiative with the with lots of good science to recommend
Olive Oil Wellness Institute. mushrooms and olive oils as both being
everyday foods to support health."
The free webinar addressing the
changing health landscape for COMPLETING THE PROJECT
healthcare professionals through
a Food as Medicine lens will be hosted Mr Wright explained that the project
by Professor Catherine Itsiopolous. team would also undertake a fi nal
The webinar includes project leader Dr Audience Sentiment Survey in October
Flávia Fayet-Moore, and Herbalist and to determine the extent to which
Naturopathic Clinician Ian Breakspear as health professionals are more fully
key presenters. understanding the health benefi ts of
mushrooms.
The event has been designed to look at
foods as opposed to supplements from "The project to date has developed
the approach of health and immunity. a range of great collateral, that we
This takes into account the potential can drive that further through digital
of foods to combat the dual health channels, electronic direct mail, social
challenges for health professionals media and webinars."
today, rising infectious disease on the
backdrop of increasing chronic diseases "While the project is set to conclude
Project materials provide a range of simple such as cardiovascular disease and at the end of the year, the opportunity
tips diabetes. is there to continue the discussions
and build on the network of health
Ms Wright said the webinar targeted professionals who are now receiving
our overall project objectives, allowing
us to have ongoing conversations with naturopaths and, in particular, regular information about mushrooms,"
even more people about the health leveraging their established philosophy Ms Wright concluded.
benefi ts of mushrooms." of using food as medicine in dealing with
clients. Further information about the project
will be made available in the next edition
"The open rates for our emails are
above average for the industry, and we "While naturopaths are already familiar of this Journal.










Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 19

FOOD INDUSTRY








Martine Poulain She said the experience of Adam Moore resources to address any identifi ed
would be invaluable to the project.
issues.”
Relationship & General Manager,
Australian Mushroom Growers’ “Adam is not only a chef of vast “We want to ensure we are not just
Association experience but has also worked in pubs saying to the food industry “eat
and clubs and small restaurants through mushrooms because they are good for
to major corporations. He also works you”. We intend to engage strongly and
0457 440 298
for TAFE, has a strong connection with develop resources and solutions that
[email protected] the Australian Culinary Federation, solve nutrition problems, and that can
and works in the education and food be eff ectively implemented.”
development space. So he is an excellent
The AMGA is spearheading a renewed conduit for us to get a comprehensive “Part of this process will be building
push to educate the food industry understanding of the food sector and on previous work undertaken by the
about Australian mushrooms. The three how it operates.” industry and looking at foodservice
year, levy-funded project will develop opportunities. We will look at ways
and deliver a long term strategic She said the partnership with NRAUS to amplify that work and talk with
program of activities to educate food would allow the team to use their strong companies like Sodexo who supply
industry professionals about the health track record to deliver high quality into hospitals, mining and aged care
benefi ts and culinary uses of Australian science, nutrition translation resources, facilities, and other large catering
mushrooms. and education techniques to support the companies that have a high quantum of
project and its dissemination. infl uence.”
The project team, headed by the AMGA
Relationship and General Manager Ms Poulain said the scoping component Ms Poulain said the experience of Mr
Martine Poulain, also involves the of the project would look to determine Moore would be valuable in working with
AMGA Communications Manager, Leah where the nutrition problems are and kitchen staff to help implement change.
Bramich, Culinology Director at Culinary where the opportunities are for the
Revolutions, Adam Moore and project industry. “To really cut through, we will
partner, Nutrition Research Australia incorporate video into the case studies,
(NRAUS), headed by Dr Flavia Fayet- “The project will develop a total of so we can show exactly how mushrooms
Moore. eight case studies across areas such as solve a particular nutritional issue –
institutional and corporate catering, such as vitamin D defi ciency at aged
Ms Poulain said the project was broader through to café’s, hotels and quick- care facilities, for example.”
than just foodservice and would examine service restaurants. The case studies
a range of potential opportunities across will bring together the latest nutrition “During the current discovery stage, we
the wider food industry sector. research, developing appropriate will also be looking at how we can assist
“Importantly, we will be looking to
connect all the elements of nutrition
research back to the food industry,
identifying ways in which an increased
understanding of mushrooms can
benefi t our industry.”

She outlined that the fi rst stage of the
project would involve a wide-ranging
desktop review.
“The review will map the wider food
industry – not just those that cook
in foodservice – taking into account
processing, manufacturing, and
institutional catering companies to
understand better how they work
and the potential opportunities for
mushrooms.”




20 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

companies in providing food that is not
only healthy but also sustainable to
meet corporate and social responsibility
obligations.”
Ms Poulain said the project would look to
work with TAFE and culinary education
schools.

“If we can identify the opportunity, we
will look at ways of adding lesson plans
to the curriculum, particularly as there
appears to be nothing currently that
teaches food students about vegetarian
and vegan plant-forward menus.”

“Within the fi rst 12 months, we will look
to gather the information required to
put together a food industry blueprint
for the industry. The blueprint will be
all about identifying the opportunities
and determining the possibilities The Blend program into foodservice, into hospitals and care facilities, they
for mushrooms in the food industry with large companies like Sodexo taking mostly have nutritionists on site, so we
marketplace.” the blenditarian pledge. We are hoping have resources that can immediately
to learn from the experience and explore showcase mushrooms.”
She explained that the project would whether The Blend – substituting “The blueprint and the communication
work cooperatively with other research, mushrooms for mince – can work as a plan will consider the current resources;
such as the current levy-funded study on nutritional solution in the Australian however, they will be refi ned to target
global innovations. context.” the broader food industry.”

She said the project would also tap Ms Poulain said the project would also “What we are trying to do is to connect
into international experience, with the consider the work done to develop the dots, connect the relevant projects,
Project Reference Group, involving local mushroom nutrition resources for and bring together resources and
growers and industry participants and health professionals. activities that can leave a lasting legacy.
the United States Mushroom Council If we do that, we can deliver a lasting
Foodservice Director, Steve Solomon. “There is a crossover with some of the benefi t for the industry in dealing with
foundational nutritional work that has the broader food industry sector,” she
“The US Mushroom Council has a wealth already been done. In terms of aged care said.
of experience to off er, having delivered organisations or institutional catering












Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 21

CAN MUSHROOMS




LOWER BLOOD




CHOLESTEROL?








Dr Welma Stonehouse So, where do mushrooms come into project, which the CSIRO is undertaking,
is scheduled to be completed in February
this conversation? Reducing blood
Project Leader cholesterol is the primary way to reduce 2026.
cardiovascular disease risk, with diet
and lifestyle interventions seen as the Project Leader Dr Welma Stonehouse
0439 971 907 fi rst line of therapy to maintain lower said the study has real potential to
[email protected] cholesterol and blood pressure. contribute to population health and
the growth of the mushroom industry
Mushrooms contain high levels of a type if the scientifi c evidence supports a
of dietary fi bre, beta-glucan, which is cholesterol-lowering eff ect.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a the active component attributed to the
signifi cant cause of death in Australia, blood cholesterol-lowering properties of The fi rst phase of the research is to
with Heart Foundation data highlighting oats and barley. profi le the beta-glucan content of
CVD is responsible for causing one in buttons, cups, fl at and Brown (Agaricus
four (26%) of all deaths. On average, 118 The cholesterol-lowering properties bisporus), shimeji and oyster (Pleurotus
Australians die from CVD each day, or of beta-glucan in oats and barley have ostreatus) mushrooms. An examination
one person every 12 minutes.
been extensively studied, supporting will then be made of the cholesterol-
a high-level health claim authorised lowering mode of action of the beta-
With statistics like that, and with the by the Food Standards Australia New glucan from mushrooms compared to
economic cost of providing healthcare Zealand (FSANZ). However, it is not oats.
services to admitted patients estimated known whether the beta-glucan from
by the Heart Foundation to be mushrooms has similar cholesterol- “The current cholesterol health
approximately $5 billion annually, it is lowering properties. claim related to oats and barley is
little wonder that there is a strong focus underpinned by high-quality research
on developing long-term solutions to The new levy-funded project – data. Given that the beta-glucan
address the issue.
Mushrooms and their potential health structure in mushrooms is diff erent to
benefi ts of lowering blood cholesterol – that of oats and barley, we need to show
Thankfully, deaths have declined over aims to generate the scientifi c evidence that mushrooms can deliver a similar
the last decade with an improved required to support a high-level claim cholesterol-lowering eff ect.”
understanding of risk factors, more for mushrooms to be treated in a similar
eff ective medications, better screening manner to that of oats and barley. The
and other interventions.

























New research could determine if mushrooms have a role in lowering blood cholesterol - a primary way to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.




22 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

The project is looking to determine if mushrooms can deliver a similar cholesterol-lowering eff ect as oats and barley.



“To do this, an in vitro digestive model then consume a control vegetable for successful outcome for this project.”
will be used in the laboratory to compare the second phase of the study.”
the mode of action of beta-glucan from “It will be four weeks of trials for Dr Stonehouse said the fi nal step for the
mushrooms to that of oats. If we can mushrooms, two weeks without project would be to communicate the
prove that mushrooms deliver the same anything, and then a further four weeks outcomes of the work.
eff ect, the project will then go into the of taking the other intervention.”
second phase.” “Upon completing this project, we
“If we can gather all the appropriate aim to develop a communication
Dr Stonehouse explained that before evidence, the fi nal step will be to strategy in collaboration with Nutrition
any decision is taken to move forward, a develop an application to FSANZ Australia Victorian Division to inform
consultation process will be undertaken that will include all the project data, and build awareness of any new
with FSANZ to determine the evidence supported by previous research mushroom and cholesterol health
required for a claim to be approved. undertaken in this area.” claim. The focus of this would be to
inform health professionals and peak
“The most likely scenario is that FSANZ The question for FSANZ, she said, would health organisations, such as the Heart
will require data from a high quality be whether to consider amending the Foundation, about the new claim so the
human clinical trial to show that current claim to include mushrooms or advice can be delivered more broadly to
mushrooms lower cholesterol.” if a new health claim is required to cover the Australian community.”
the specifi c benefi ts of mushrooms in
“Because cholesterol can change relation to lowering cholesterol. Dr Stonehouse said that this project
within weeks, we will most likely use holds great promise for deepening the
a crossover trial where participants “Either way, progressing the research to understanding of the health benefi ts
include a specifi ed amount of the point of the fi ndings being accepted of mushrooms and contributing to
mushrooms in their regular diet, and by FSANZ for a health claim will be a supporting cardiovascular health.















Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 23

FARM HYGIENE:













Judy Allan

Pest & Disease Service


02 6767 1057
[email protected]


Attending to the details of Farm Hygiene
on a mushroom farm is a necessity not
an option. (Left) An example of lack
of attention to detail.The
area has been cleaned,  the
When delivering training in Farm
Hygiene I tend to utilise a few key compost fl oor sweepings
phrases as entry points to illustrate bin emptied BUT the bin
concepts. and the pallet have not
been cleaned. The saying
“A chain is as strong as its
“Elephants Don’t Bite, Mosquitoes Do”.
Hygiene is about many small details and weakest link’ is applicable.
to ignore small details or initial ‘small’
outbreaks is bad practice and can end up
being very expensive.
Evaluation & Identification
“Creeping Variance” (a term fi rst quoted Follow Up of Key Pests
by a United Kingdom adviser Geoff
Ganney) is a great enemy of Farm
Hygiene.

Once Farm Hygiene procedures are put
in place on a mushroom farm they need
to be reviewed regularly to ensure that
procedures are actually being followed
to farm standard, and that they are still Decide Preventative
appropriate. Action Cultural
Practices
“Hygiene is like a wheelbarrow - if you
don’t push it, then it stops”. Managing
and training staff are key components of
Farm Hygiene. Predict Loss
& Risk
The continuum of Integrated Pest
Management or as it is often termed
IPM is represented in Figure 1.
Figure 1 - Pest and Disease Management continuum
A more detailed description of the
component parts of IPM is dealt with
in the article titled ‘What is Integrated
Pest Management?’ which is reprinted
on Page 34 with kind permission of the
Penn State University.










24 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

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Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 25

MU16003: MORE




THAN JUST WORDS





Warwick Gill of terminating the crop early – spot calculated for each salt concentration
for each pathogen and the data plotted.
treatment. Spot treatment is a tedious,
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture time consuming and expensive exercise
University of Tasmania, Hobart which if not done correctly can make the PRELIMINARY RESULTS
situation worse. On the other hand, even
if spot treatment is performed to near Each pathogen has a diff erent tolerance
0417 766 588 perfection, the best result possible is to salt. Lecanicillium stops growing at
containment of the disease. a point less than 4%, Cladobotryum at
[email protected]
a point less than 7% and Trichoderma
One of the major research tasks this somewhere in excess of 10%, yet to
Project MU16003 (pest and disease year is to evaluate some options be determined (Fig. 1). Cessation of
management and research services) to improve the outcomes of spot growth is not the only infl uence that
has a research component which has treatment in a formal trial. To prepare increasing salt concentration has on the
been addressing key issues such as the for this trial, facets of current spot pathogens. The pattern of sporulation is
diagnosis of unusual symptomology, treatment methods are being measured disrupted at just 1% of salt, most easily
identifi cation of major pathogens and to establish a baseline for future seen in Trichoderma and Cladobotryum.
maintenance and expansion of the comparison.
mushroom industry’s culture collection From the preliminary results, a second
which has supplied mushroom farm- One of the most common questions assay currently underway is aimed at
derived microbes to several industry asked regarding spot treatment is “how identifying the exact concentration that
projects. far out from where I salt the casing inhibits fungal growth.
will it have an eff ect on Dry Bubble?”
In keeping with the Project Team’s To answer this, a bench-top assay is Even in this early stage of the
holistic approach to mushroom disease being conducted to determine how investigation, the variable response of
management, the research focus has tolerant three mushroom pathogens the diff erent pathogens to the same salt
recently been expanded to not only are to increasing salt concentrations. concentrations reinforces the Project
address some farm-based issues that This will give the Project Team an idea Team’s approach to spot treatment.
have been raised during this project, of the range of salt concentrations that That is, the spot treatment method
but to also raise awareness in aspects will be present in the casing so that the must be selected according to pathogen
of pest and disease management. correct instrument can be used to make biology and not for convenience.
This article presents two snapshots of measurements during the trial.
current work underway and presents SNAPSHOT 2: IS UV RADIATION
interim results. METHODOLOGY EFFECTIVE FOR SANITATION OF
SNAPSHOT 1: TOLERANCE OF Initially, three mushroom pathogens DELICATE ELETRICAL EQUIPMENT?
MUSHROOM PATHOGENS TO SALT – Lecanicillium, Cladobotryum and
Trichoderma casing green mould – were INTRODUCTION
plated in triplicate onto Potato Dextrose
INTRODUCTION Agar containing salt ranging from 0 to The sticky spores of Dry Bubble
10% NaCl (w/v) in increments of 1%. (Lecanicillium) are very easily vectored
When disease occurs mid-fl ush, After 14 days incubation, the mean by humans and spread by standard
growers have only one option short colony diameter of the three plates was mushroom cultivation practices. One of
the approaches of the Project Team to
Dry Bubble control is to identify vector
and transmission pathways and manage
them in an eff ort to break the on-farm
re-infection cycle.

Mobile phones have become
indispensable tools to growers
and supervisors. They are used to
photograph pests, diseases and
disorders for diagnostic and training
purposes and they are of course widely
used to communicate with staff and
colleagues. It is very likely that mobile
phones can become contaminated with
Lecanicillium, for example, on a farm
with persistent Dry Bubble disease.



26 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

But short of drowning the phone in
disinfectant, it is diffi cult to sanitise a
phone eff ectively without damaging it.

In response to COVID-19, the market
has been fl ooded with hand-held UV
sterilizing devices which are touted to
sterilize all sorts of delicate surfaces and
devices and make them safe from the
virus.
This task evaluates the eff ectiveness
of fi ve UV sterilizing devices of
diff ering confi gurations against three
mushroom pathogens – Lecanicillium,
Cladobotryum and Trichoderma – to
fi nd a safe method of sanitizing mobile
phones and other delicate electrical
equipment such as computer keyboards
that cannot be safely disinfected.
METHODOLOGY

An initial test was carried out confi rming
the effi cacy of 70% ethanol against the
three pathogens and that the transfer
of the untreated pathogens from screen ‘fi ngerprint’. This method was used as exposure. The results for the other four
to Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plate was it simulates the most likely way a phone devices were identical. None of the fi ve
eff ective. would become contaminated on-farm UV sterilizing devices were eff ective
(Fig. 2). The ‘fi ngerprints’ were exposed against the three mushroom pathogens
Before each transfer of pathogen to the to each UV device and then a PDA plate tested even at twice the recommended
mobile phone, the screen was washed was touched onto the ‘fi ngerprint’ to exposure.
with 70% ethanol and dried. The pick up surviving microbes. The plates
pathogens were applied to the screen by were incubated and checked for growth CURRENT WORK
touching a sanitised gloved fi nger onto after 14 days.
a PDA plate culture of the pathogen In the second part of the evaluation
and touching the same fi nger onto Both the minimum and maximum currently underway, pathogen
the screen, leaving behind a pathogen recommended exposures of each ‘fi ngerprints’ have been exposed to
device were applied, followed by up to fi ve times the manufacturer’s
twice the recommended maximum maximum recommended exposure rate.
exposure. Between each UV exposure, Depending on the outcome of this part
the mobile phone screen was wiped of the evaluation, the fi nal step will be to
with 70% ethanol and a new pathogen determine the actual exposure required
‘fi ngerprint’ was applied so that all UV to achieve an eff ective kill. Whether
exposures were tested against fresh the length of exposure required will be
pathogen. practical is another question…

PRELIMINARY RESULTS NOTE: The Project Team do not advocate
the use of 70% ethanol to sanitise a
The results of exposure of three mobile phone. The phone used in this test
pathogens to one of the devices are was no longer in use.
shown in Fig. 3. All three pathogens
were killed by 70% ethanol, but none
were killed by UV radiation even after
twice the recommended maximum





















Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 27

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Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 29

THE FARM LAUNDRY:




SIGNIFICANT





DRY BUBBLE




“HOT SPOT”






Warwick Gill two concepts and presents information WHAT PROBLEMS CAN
BIOFILMS CAUSE?
demonstrating that washing machines
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture represent a signifi cant Dry Bubble “hot
University of Tasmania, Hobart spot”. Biofi lms are widespread in both the
natural and man-made environment.
WHAT IS BIOFILM? Biofi lms are the slippery surface on
0417 766 588 rocks in fl owing water and the slime
Biofi lm is a highly structured, mixed layer that builds up on spoilt meat and
[email protected]
community of microorganisms that poultry left in the fridge.
adhere to each other and are collectively
adhered to a fi rm surface. Biofi lms may become very large and
INTRODUCTION clog fi lters, injection heads, heat
The microorganisms produce a exchangers and water and effl uent pipes
Dry Bubble (Lecanicillium) is the most mucilage, called an extracellular in industrial settings. Cells within the
persistent and damaging disease matrix, which protects the community biofi lm may also secrete harmful toxins
encountered on a mushroom farm from environmental infl uences such into waterways or produce corrosive
and is the most diffi cult disease to as temperature and pH fl uctuations. substances which damage machinery
eradicate. Because of its sticky spores, Furthermore, the cells within biofi lms and structures. Within the human body,
Lecanicillium is easily vectored by fl ies, undergo physiological changes which biofi lms are found within the digestive
mites and most signifi cantly people make the cells behave diff erently to tract, on our skin surface and forming
and their practices such as watering their free-living form, altering their plaque on our teeth, while in the food
and harvesting. As well as being easily survivability and infectivity. industry, biofi lms form on food contact
vectored, Lecanicillium spores can also surfaces and are responsible for
survive long-term in the mushroom farm As it matures, outer cells are sloughed outbreaks of food-borne diseases.
environment by forming persistent, off the biofi lm either when it reaches
often overlooked disease reservoirs. a size threshold or when the cells are WHY IS BIOFILM A PROBLEM
being replaced in a cycle of renewal. ON MUSHROOM FARMS?
Throughout MU16003, the Project Portions of the biofi lm can also be
Team have taken a holistic whole- broken off if it is disturbed. Irrespective Biofi lms require four things:
farm approach to Dry Bubble control of the cause, viable microorganisms are • water,
embracing the core tenets of Integrated released into the environment and are • organic material,
Pest and Disease Management. In dispersed in the wet habitat. Given the • a stable surface, and
addition to addressing the disease as right conditions, pathogenic cells within • a supply of microorganisms.
and where it expresses, the Project the biofi lm can begin new infections or
Team have taken an active role in start a new biofi lm. Because all of these can be found in
advocating Dry Bubble prevention mushroom grow rooms in abundance,
through eff ective sanitation and HOW DOES BIOFILM FORM? grow rooms are the ideal environment
by identifying and eliminating both for biofi lm to form. Furthermore,
recognised and lesser-known sources Biofi lm formation begins when pseudomonads, a diverse bacterial
of infection to reduce transmission of free-living bacterial cells adhere to group responsible for brown and gingeri
the pathogen and break the on-farm re- a dirty fi rm surface within a moist blotch disease (Pseudomonas gingeri
infection cycles that lead to persistent environment. Other free-living microbes and Pseudomonas tolaasii respectively)
outbreaks. passing by in the fi lm of moisture then and stimulation of mushroom fruiting
adhere to the surface and/or the cells (Pseudomonas putida) are the most
Biofi lm as a potential disease reservoir already attached. prevalent bacterial group in the
on mushroom farms (Gill 2018) and the mushroom casing.
survival of Lecanicillium spores in farm As various microorganisms pass the
washing machines (Mandalapu & Gill developing biofi lm, they too become Pseudomonads are also very active in
2020) have been previously addressed attached and incorporated, forming a biofi lm formation as they produce large
separately. This article connects these mixed community. amounts of mucilage. Mushroom grow

30 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

rooms provide the perfect recipe for the MU16003 Project Team noted a DOES BIOFILM FORM IN
extensive biofi lm formation. harvester’s hand towel hanging on WASHING MACHINES?
a picking trolley at the end of shift
Biofi lms also incorporate organic debris (Fig. 1a). The towel was touched onto Yes, biofi lm grows very extensively in
from their immediate environment, so a selective medium (Fig. 1b) on which washing machines. The Project Team
mushroom farm biofi lms are also likely Lecanicillium colonies subsequently treated a domestic washing
to include pathogenic fungal spores grew (Fig. 1c) confi rming the towel was machine using the following cleaning
such as Cobweb (Cladobotryum), Dry contaminated with Lecanicillium. The procedure…
Bubble (Lecanicillium) and green mould contaminated towel was destined to
(Trichoderma) which are prevalent in have been washed with other laundry Washing machine cleaning:
the grow room fl oor dust, particularly items which would have most likely
when the diseases are expressing. As transferred the pathogen to surfaces 1. Run a small hot water wash cycle
the outer cells of maturing biofi lms are within the machine and cross- without detergent and turn the
sloughed off or dislodged, the highly contaminated other laundry items. appliance off after the wash water
infective spores can be vectored by farm has drained but before cold rinse
personnel and insects or transmitted This route of Dry Bubble transmission water is introduced. This clears out
by machinery and water to form a can be confi rmed, as Lecanicillium has residual cold water in the hot pipe
new biofi lm at another location or been recovered by the Project Team so that hot water is delivered to the
contaminate mushroom crops. In this from the internal surfaces of a farm machine at the outset of cleaning
way, biofi lms represent a signifi cant washing machine (Fig. 1d). Furthermore, and heats the barrel so that the
disease reservoir. research published by the Project Team cleaning water will stay hotter for
(Mandalapu & Gill 2020) demonstrated longer.
In addition to biofi lms protecting their that Lecanicillium was unaff ected by 2. Dissolve four dishwashing tablets
diverse microbial communities from both a cold and warm wash, irrespective in about 5L of hot water in a bucket
adverse environmental infl uences, the of the presence of laundry detergent. and pour this solution into the
structure of the biofi lm is also able to washing machine.
prevent sanitizers and disinfectants The interaction of viable Lecanicillium 3. Start a hot water wash cycle on
penetrating to the cells deep within, spores and hyphal cells and biofi lm a medium load setting, omitting
meaning that pathogens within the developing within the farm washing laundry detergent.
biofi lm will remain viable in the grow machine, make the washing machine 4. Pause the machine after the initial
room after sanitation. a potential Dry Bubble “hot spot”. Like wash water has drained off and
grow rooms, the washing machine note the amount of biofi lm that has
WHY WASHING MACHINES? provides all four requirements to make a accumulated in the bottom of the
biofi lm. And, like the grow room fl oor, barrel.
Washing machines have been identifi ed contaminated towels and other laundry 5. Restart the machine and run until
as a transmission/vector source of items provide a supply of pathogens all cycles have completed.
Dry Bubble. While on a farm visit which can become incorporated into a
during a previous project (MU12007), biofi lm.











a b c










d e

Figure 1 Washing machine biofilm a) example of a harvester’s hand towel hanging on a picking trolley b) the hand towel being sampled

for Lecanicillium c) Lecanicillium growing out from the hand towel touch plate – all white colonies are Lecanicillium (example arrowed)

d) a typical domestic front-loading washing machine on a mushroom farm e) biofilm in a domestic washing machine during cleaning.

Images: Judy Allan (a, b); Warwick Gill (c, d, e)
Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 31

6. Repeat the procedure and check for
biofi lm at the end of the wash cycle.
Repeat the cleaning procedure until
no more biofi lm is seen.
A large amount of biofi lm was observed
in the barrel after the wash cycle
(Fig. 1e). Considering that most of
the suspended biofi lm would have
drained away with the wash water, the
amount of biofi lm remaining behind is
remarkable. a b

Some of the biofi lm was collected from Figure 2 Viable fungi within washing machine biofilm growing and reproducing a) two types
the barrel, stained and examined by of hyphae are visible; thin walled blue staining hyphae (black arrow) and thick-walled
light microscopy. The presence of fungal pigmented hyphae (yellow arrow) b) a blue-stained conidiophore with chains of
hyphae (Fig. 2a) and a conidiophore conidiospores (arrow). Images: Warwick Gill
producing chains of spores (Fig. 2b) is
strong evidence that fungi incorporated
in the biofi lm were growing and
sporulating within the machine.

Some of the biofi lm was also plated onto
Potato Dextrose Agar and incubated.
The resulting colonies (Fig. 3a-d)
illustrate the diversity of the fungi that
were living within the washing machine
biofi lm. Common environmental genera
such as Cladosporium, Aspergillus,
Alternaria, Penicillium and Trichoderma
were readily identifi ed by microscopic
examination. Particularly notable for a b
growers is the presence of Trichoderma
(Fig. 2d). Not only has it been
incorporated into a biofi lm, but it has
survived the harsh cleaning conditions
(Y°C, pH 10.5).

A sample of rinse water was collected in
a bottle and left at room temperature.
After 10 days, fungal colonies and biofi lm
were observed growing attached to the
bottle wall (Fig. 4).

The washing machine used in this
cleaning trial is a standard 6.5kg
capacity top loading machine connected c d
to a domestic hot water supply. The
household (two adults only) run the Figure 3 a-d) Some examples of fungal colonies growing from biofilm particles plated onto
appliance exclusively on a cold wash PDA. The survival of Trichoderma (d) is a very significant result for mushroom growers.
using a common supermarket brand Images: Warwick Gill
of powdered laundry detergent once
or twice weekly. Fabric softeners cylinder being less than 10 meters away. in warmer climates can expect mature
have not been used for more than By the end of the wash cycle, the water biofi lms to exist in their appliances,
o
fi ve years. Heavily soiled items such temperature had fallen to 45 C. regularly sloughing infective pathogenic
as greasy overalls, muddy clothing or cells throughout their wash. The farm
sports equipment are not washed in This is defi nitive evidence that the washing machine is a disease “hot spot”.
the machine. The appliance has been farm washing machine represents
cleaned three times with vinegar and a high disease transmission risk. WHAT OTHER FACTORS
bicarbonate of soda on a hot wash cycle Signifi cantly for mushroom growers, CONTRIBUTE TO BIOFILM
in its 13-year life. the cleaned machine characterises the FORMATION IN WASHING
best-case scenario; extensive biofi lm MACHINES?
For the cleaning treatment, the ambient had developed even though only lightly
air temperature was measured at 26 C soiled laundry items were washed once The major contributor to biofi lm
o
and the water entered the appliance or twice weekly in the cool climate of formation in washing machines has been
o
at 51 C. This is despite the machine southern Tasmania. the trend over the past 20-or-so
being connected to a dedicated washing years to run cold washes in an eff ort to
machine fi xture delivering hot and cold Farms regularly washing organic- reduce energy consumption.
water separately and the hot water laden, disease-contaminated textiles

32 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

It may be worthwhile taking some time • Regularly clean the machine by
to measure the wash water temperature running a hot wash cycle with
in your machine – fi nding ways to dishwash tablets as described
increase the temperature could help above, bucketting hot water into
eliminate a Dry Bubble transmission the machine if it is only connected
source on your farm. to cold water.
• Monitor the amount of biofi lm in
GROWERS’ ACTION POINTS the waste wash water and rinse
TO ELIMINATE THE FARM water. Clean more often if biofi lm
LAUNDRY AS A DISEASE is detected. Remember that
RESERVOIR AND VECTOR pathogens embedded in a biofi lm
matrix may survive the cleaning
• Purchase a modern machine capable process so they will accumulate
of heating its own water to at least around the drain outlet when
95°C. Use the highest temperature fl ushed through the system .
available to prevent biofi lm
Figure 4 Biofilm (b) and mould colonies (m) development and to eff ectively KEY REFERENCES
growing in rinse water recovered during the eradicate mushroom pathogens
cleaning process. Image: Warwick Gill from contaminated textiles such as Babič MN, Zalar P, Ženko B, Schroers H-J,
hand towels and overalls . Džeroski S, Gunde-Cimerman N (2015)
A recent European survey of domestic • If continuing to use an older Candida and Fusarium species known
washing machines found biofi lm in 79% machine, make sure textiles as human pathogens from customer-
of appliances which signifi cantly were likely to be contaminated with accessible parts of residential washing
all run with cold or warm water (≤40°C) mushroom pathogens are washed machines. Fungal Biology 119:95-113
while the remaining 21% which did not in the hottest water available. If
contain biofi lm were all run on a hot connected to a domestic supply, run Bockmühl DP (2015) Laundry hygiene –
water (≥60°C) wash. hot water through the supply pipes how to get more than clean. Journal of
before beginning a wash so that Applied Microbiology 122:1124-1133
The shift to more environmentally hottest water possible is delivered
sustainable formulations has meant at the beginning of the wash cycle . Gill W (2018) Biofi lm – the horror movie
that bleaching agents, particularly • Check the hot water connection of now playing at your farm. Australian
chlorine compounds, have been largely your machine – is it connected to Mushrooms Journal Autumn:21-23
removed from laundry detergents. a sanitary outlet such as a basin
While new formulations developed tap? If so, the temperature may Honisch M, Stamminger R, Bockmühl
for cold water have increased the be restricted to 50°C for personal DP (2014) Impact of wash cycle time,
‘cleanliness’ of laundry, the inability to safety . temperature and detergent formulation
kill microorganisms has resulted in a less • Measure the temperature of the on the hygiene eff ectiveness of
hygienic wash, a result with implications water as it enters the machine. domestic laundering. Journal of Applied
for the mushroom grower. The temperature may need to be Microbiology 117:1787-1797
boosted to >60°C by bucketing
In a surprising fi nding, the European water from another source . Mandalapu B, Gill W (2020) Coming
survey also found that some microbes • If the only option is to run the clean: what happens to dry bubble
isolated from washing machine biofi lms machine on cold water, consider (Lecanicillium) spores in your washing
were able to degrade mild detergents using a bleaching agent or an Active machine? Australian Mushrooms Journal
and fabric softeners, using them as a Oxygen Bleach-type detergent to 2:15-17
nutrient source, resulting in greater maximise kill of microorganisms on
diversity of microorganisms within the textiles and on surfaces within the Nix ID, Frontzek A, Bockmuhl DP
biofi lms. appliance. (2015) Characterization of microbial
• Continue to use laundry detergent communities in household washing
Australian regulations require hot water as this helps to remove organic machines. Tenside Surfactants
to be stored at 60°C or above to prevent soiling from laundry, but do not use Detergents 52:432-440
growth of harmful human pathogens fabric softener .
such as Legionella (Legionnaire’s Pollack RA, Findlay L, Mondschein W,
disease). However, to prevent personal Modesto RR (2005) Biofi lms. Laboratory
injury, the temperature of water Exercises in Microbiology, 2nd edition.
delivered to sanitary fi xtures (e.g. John Wiley & Sons Inc. USA
shower, bath, basin, bidet) must not, by
law, exceed 50°C.

If a farm washing machine is connected
to a domestic hot water system through
a tap meant or personal use, the water
delivered to the appliance will be much
less than 50°C. Also, if the washing
machine connection is far removed from
the hot water system, heat will be lost if
the pipe is not lagged suffi ciently.




Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 33

WHAT IS INTEGRATED




PEST MANAGEMENT?










Integrated pest management (IPM) is an control strategy; a susceptible host. Pathogen-host
approach to pest control that focuses • Monitor pest and disease interactions are often very specifi c. If
on pest prevention by eliminating the populations; and an appropriate host cannot be found,
root causes of pest problems with • Evaluate and follow up. the disease will not be present since
technical and management methods the pathogen is missing its food
to eff ectively suppress or prevent pest UNDERSTAND THE DISEASE source. Finally, the right environmental
populations in a safe, cost-eff ective, and TRIANGLE CONCEPT conditions must be present for the
environmentally sound manner. pathogen to cause disease.
A disease is a sustained or progressive
What are the advantages of IPM? IPM impairment of an organism’s cells IDENTIFY THE PEST
programs have proved to signifi cantly or tissues that causes structural or
reduce risks related to pesticides while functional abnormalities. A disease The fi rst step in solving any pest
improving the quality, health, and occurs when a disease-causing problem eff ectively and safely is the
welfare of the environment and people. agent, or pathogen, meets the right correct identifi cation of the pest.
host organism under environmental
• IPM reduces the environmental risk conditions favorable for disease KNOW THE ENEMY
associated with pest management development.
by encouraging the adoption of It is key to know the kind of pests you
more ecologically benign control These three elements—pathogen, host, have and where they are coming from.
tactics. and environmental conditions—make Since each pest has diff erent habits,
• IPM minimizes disease resistance. up the disease triangle (Figure 1). The biology, and life cycles, its positive
Resistance must be evaluated with disease triangle is a concept that identifi cation will lead to more eff ective
respect to the natural variation illustrates the importance of all three control.
among individuals and populations critical factors necessary for disease to
in their abilities to detoxify a develop. DETERMINE THE ECONOMIC
pesticide. THRESHOLD
• Organic production allows pest First, a pathogen must be present in
control with the use of OMRI- the environment. Disease-causing Mushroom growers integrate multiple
1
approved materials. plant pathogens include fungi, viruses, control strategies, as in an IPM program,
bacteria, and other microbes. Next, a but they must also make decisions in
WHY IS IPM IMPORTANT FOR pathogen must come in contact with relation to pest population dynamics, or
MUSHROOM PRODUCTION?

IPM techniques are key to mushroom
growing because the crop is grown
inside climate-controlled buildings. This
off ers two advantages over other crops:
(1) control of the growing room’s internal
environment, which is important for
the exclusion of many pests, and (2)
manipulation of temperature and
humidity.

HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT IPM?
IPM follows a stepwise approach:
• Understand the disease triangle
concept;
• Identify the pest;
• Know the enemy;
• Determine the economic threshold;
• Develop an eff ective preventive




1&2 Editors Note: OMRI refers to an American organisation - Organic Materials Review Institute. Australia has its own set of organic standards.


34 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021













your blend “The possibilities are endless in our brand
new, state-of-the-art production location in
Cuijk. Here, we work with passion to produce
for life the perfect Topterra casing soil every day.

We store our raw materials directly inside,
which ensures a qualitative and consistent
product. This makes us ready for the future.’’






Ronald Vermunt



Location Manager
Legro Mushroom Casing Solutions


+31 (0)88 1717600
[email protected]


www.legrogroup.com





Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 41

SCOPING GLOBAL




INNOVATIONS







Martine Poulain “My approach is what they can’t see, “The approach will be to try and capture
they can’t consider. I intend to deliver a
innovations as widely as possible, but
Relationship & General Manager, project to the industry that unlocks the looking specifi cally in those areas that
Australian Mushroom Growers’ door to the potential opportunities.” are trending with consumers.”
Association
To be successful, she explained, will “It will be about showing growers the
require robust engagement with opportunities that exist and in ways
0457 440 298
stakeholders. that test their appetite for risk.”
[email protected]
“Within the project, we are bringing It is that element of risk that is the
together an industry group to present missing part of the puzzle, she said.
Google “innovative mushroom products” ideas and get them involved to see what
and the answers are indeed many, with they think may be of interest.” “From a growers perspective, some
products ranging from mushroom- early adopters are likely to have a higher
infused coff ees and hot chocolates, The AMGA is helping drive the appetite for risk. These growers may
umami seasonings, mushrooms chips engagement process, building a diverse well take something and invest and
and snacks, through to skincare and representation, both from within demonstrate to industry the benefi ts in
packaging. The humble mushroom, it Australia and internationally, to interact diversifying their business operations in
seems, can do just about anything. with the project management team. The a particular direction.”
fi rst meeting of the stakeholder group is
While there is undoubtedly a wide scheduled for September 2021. Dr Stefoska-Needham said the industry
range of non-food innovations on the is understandably focused on fresh
market, most products are food-related, Dr Stefoska-Needham said the project mushrooms, but the project would look
looking to leverage consumer demand would examine opportunities in areas at other ways of adding value to the
for healthy products. A new six-month, such as vegan and meat alternatives, business.
levy-funded project is underway to healthcare, foodservice and retail.
review fungi based global innovations
to inform product development “There are several
opportunities for the Australian categories of
industry. products that
are of consumer
Managed by the Australian Mushroom interest at
Growers’ Association, the project work is the moment.
being undertaken by Dr Anita Stefoska- Things like the
Needham, a PhD-qualifi ed Advanced plant-based
Accredited Practising Dietitian, lecturer, diet movement,
researcher and inventor, with a the vegan
particular interest in food innovations. movement and
the push for meat
Dr Stefoska-Needham explained that the alternatives are
project’s main aim is to conduct a global all areas driven by
scan of commercially ready products consumer trends
using mushrooms from both waste and and represent
non-waste streams. growing markets.”

“What we want to do is to scope these “And if you look
innovations and then use the fi ndings across the other
to inform the industry of new market areas such as
opportunities, explaining the potential healthcare,
viability and feasibility in the Australian foodservice
context.” and retail, they
all represent
Dr Stefoska-Needham said the key was the potential
to examine everything from an industry to target the
perspective. health-conscious
consumer.”
Mushroom crisps are a deliciously diff erent snack alternative.
Image courtesy: South Mill Champs (US) - southmill.com

42 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

“This project will hopefully help guide
and inform good business decisions.”

“The overarching aim is to identify
commercially ready innovation and
to then have an informed discussion
around what is found, taking into
account potential barriers or hurdles
for the Australian industry. This
industry engagement and discussion
will help us validate what we fi nd, as
for various reasons industry may say
that something does not work in the
Australian context.”

Dr Stefoska-Needham said she was
currently scoping the innovation pool
and listing a wide range of products.

“I am trying not to leave any stone
unturned, and there are some
fascinating things that are coming
through.”

The search is taking into account not
only existing companies and products
but also examining the scientifi c Drink in all that mushroom goodness. Image courtesy: South Mill Champs (US) - southmill.com
literature to test early-stage concepts,
particularly in the health area. “The project will deliver a represented in an extensive range of
comprehensive collection of products products.
and technologies, but it also needs to be
One such example of an early-stage
concept is New Zealand-led research communicated eff ectively to encourage “In the area of food innovation, if we
looking to develop a sorghum-based action.” are going to incorporate Agaricus
biscuit using mushroom powder to gain product, we need to look at ways to
the benefi ts from the sorghum whole “With a project like this, it is often the encourage their use and leverage into
grain and the additional nutrients from smaller, more innovative companies that new food products. And while this takes
mushrooms, such as dietary fi bre from have the appetite for higher risk, but it is advantage of global consumer trends for
beta-glucans and phenolic compounds also about trying to nudge the behaviour health, it may be that any push in this
that act as antioxidants in the body. of the bigger companies to inspire some area requires additional consideration of
action and add business value beyond issues such as freshness and spoilage.”
just fresh mushrooms.”
Dr Stefoska-Needham said the
example highlights the approach of “In the search process, I am already
looking at the emerging innovations in Dr Stefoska-Needham said innovation keeping an eye out for novel processing
science, particularly in peer-reviewed was not about coming up with wacky or technologies, such as high-pressure
publications. unusual ideas. processing, that deliver on those issues,
particularly from a microbiological
“It is often something that is perspective.”
“I am very hopeful we will capture a
nice range of concepts to inspire and mainstream that can deliver real
challenge industry participants.” success, particularly with companies “We will also look at those products that
that have a sustainable business model do contain other types of mushrooms
and a product that is selling well and is and look at what the barriers are to
“To help understand the technology in
more depth, I will be presenting three of profi table.” using Agaricus.”
the concepts in more detail to industry
participants. While the innovation will “By sharing information grounded in Dr Stefoska-Needham said the
be explained, the case study analysis solid and rigorous market research, case study materials would be
will look at the costs of investment, Australian industry participants will be presented directly to the industry,
the benefi ts and the potential hurdles much better positioned to make sound with information also disseminated
to enable further consideration and decisions about how any innovation can through the Journal and an industry
discussion by the stakeholder group.” fi t with future business strategies.” webinar. Further information on the
timing of these resources will be made
She explained that while the focus was available through the Industry Update
She outlined a vital aspect of the project
was communication. Agaricus mushrooms, it is simply not e-newsletter.












Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 43

MARSH LAWSON



MUSHROOM




RESEARCH CENTRE







Tim Adlington The case studies will include: improve whiteness in mushrooms,
especially after handling. The project
Chair, Marsh Lawson Mushroom A PCR-based system developed by a produced a factsheet, webinar and
Research Centre Steering Committee Hort Innovation project is being used to article in the Australian Mushrooms
successfully manage disease in compost Journal.
0408 543 505 and mushroom growing facilities
(Completed project MU12007) Coal-based supplement can improve
[email protected] mushroom yields (Privately funded project
Currently, 360 samples of compost run in the MLMRU)
or growing room swabs are being
In this Journal, we continue to communicate tested for the presence of Cobweb, The MLMRU facility has been used
our R&D activities with our grower Trichoderma, Dry Bubble (Lecanicillium) commercially to test the eff ectiveness
members. We are searching for better and Blotch every month. Over the of a coal-based supplement on yield
understanding and transparency as to how past six months, there have been 1932 and quality. In total, three MLMRU trials
the matching government dollars to the samples tested and reported back to were conducted, and the product is
levy are used to keep our industry at a level mushroom producers. being used commercially by Australian
unmatched elsewhere in the world, where mushroom producers to improve yields.
there is less government support.
Recycled organics being used to replace
COVID continues to make life diffi cult for peat in casing soil (Completed NSW EPA- Research delivers improved disease control
everyone, however we have managed to funded project) options for mushrooms (Project funded
get a number of projects underway as by Hort Innovation and contracted to
described in the achievements section A series of three trials at the MLMRU Eurofi ns)
of the description of projects. Many of found that composted green waste
these projects provide key information could be used to substitute up to 25% of Effi cacy and residue studies were
to integrate improvements to yield the peat used for the casing. successfully completed at the MLMRU
and quality as an enhancement to your to support a label extension of
businesses. This approach was also trialled at a the fungicide Vivando® to include
commercial farm in Sydney, and they mushrooms for the control of Cobweb
Should you have any questions please found similar results. Once there is a disease.
contact Gordon Rogers or myself. regular supply of this composted green
waste available commercially, we expect Industry research fi nding ways to make
it will be widely adopted by the industry. better compost (Current project MU17004)
A series of case studies on key Calcium chloride can help to produce better Ralph Noble from the United Kingdom
achievements of projects either mushrooms (Completed project MU19005) reviewed alternative nitrogen sources
supported by the Marsh Lawson for Australian mushroom compost.
Mushroom Research Centre Steering The project investigated ways to
Committee or involving the MLMRU improve mushroom whiteness and As part of this project, future research
research facility is being developed and included a trial of calcium chloride on will focus on how these nitrogen inputs
will be used to showcase to levy payers mushrooms at the MLMRU. This trial can work with microbes to make better
the benefi ts of the MU16004 project and confi rmed that calcium chloride applied compost.
the research facilities. in irrigation water could signifi cantly












44 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

MLMRU ACTIVITIES AND
MAINTENANCE UPDATE

The MLMRU has been maintained as an
operational unit, with repairs carried out
as required.

General supplies including compost,
peat moss, air fi lters, gloves, sanitiser,
sample bags, and growing containers
have been purchased.

A water fi ltration unit has been installed
for the boiler to descale water moving
through it.

The two-room MLMRU is fully
operational; throughput is now close
to 100% of capacity with both rooms
occupied with fi ve research trials
undertaken at the unit since the last
milestone report:

Improving whiteness and increasing
calcium content of mushrooms
17 February – 27 March 2021 - Jenny
Ekman, AHR

Casing supplementation – eff ect of varied
dosage and supplement type on yield and
N-content
17 February – 27 March - 2021 Honours
project, Kimberley Tong
Optimisation of Oyster mushroom growth
with blackwood sawdust and coff ee skins
26 November 2020 – 31 January 2021 -
Kertesz group, Phil Gough (Architecture
and Design) funded by the University of
Sydney

Optimisation of Reishi and Turkeytail
growth with 3D-printed moulds
March – May 2021 Kertesz group, Phil The Centre undertakes a range of research activities on behalf of the Australian
Gough (Architecture and Design) funded
by the University of Sydney mushroom industry and individual businesses.
Compost supplementation – eff ect of
varied dosage and supplement type on
yield and N-content
14 May – 30 June 2021 Honours project,
Kimberley Tong


Further updates on the MLMRU will be
included in upcoming editions of this
Journal.

















Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 45

VALE: TONY BIGGS




A HORTICULTURAL PIONEER




A pioneer in leadership, education and On arrival in Australia, Tony had and much, much more. I saw the
communication has been lost to the observed there was no dedicated technical content in being of paramount
Australian horticulture industry, with national magazine for commercial importance”.
the unexpected death of Tony Biggs on production horticulture. In 1990 he
17 July 2021. helped establish and was founding He travelled extensively across
editor of “Good Fruit & Vegetables”, ably Australia, seeking out stories and
In his 40 years in Australia, Tony Biggs supported by his wife Frances, producing profi les in many diverse areas, building a
made a signifi cant diff erence across a over 200 issues in the next 13 years. wide network of colleagues and friends
range of organisations and industries. in the process.
He was an excellent communicator and
He and his family moved from Kent had a particular fl air in translating and An annual highlight in the magazine
in the United Kingdom, where Tony editing scientifi c research and results were special features covering
had been lecturing at Wye College, to into every-day language. presentations from the Australian
Hawkesbury Agricultural College (as it Horticultural Corporation’s “Marketing
was then, now University of Western In a recent interview with the current Edge” conferences, reaching a much
Sydney Hawkesbury campus) in 1980. editor of “Good Fruit & Vegetables” wider audience, and generating greater
Tony said “the technical content of the interest in marketing. This led to
He was appointed Head of the magazine at the outset and throughout covering both the Asiafruit Congress
Department of Horticulture before my 13 years as editor was based around in Hong Kong and the US Produce
becoming Principal Horticulturist news and stories on current research Marketing Association’s Convention and
Vegetables with the New South Wales from around Australia and overseas, a Exposition on a number of occasions.
Department of Agriculture in the major detailed monthly business article -
mid-1980s. He had a big impact at both Enterprise of the Month; interviews with Concurrently, in 1991 he was appointed
organisations and their staff . national and international horticultural a Director of the Horticultural Research
personalities, new product information & Development Corporation, one of




46 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

the forerunners of Hort Innovation, a
position he held for nine years. Such
was his contribution; he was asked to
stay on the Board after completing the
maximum allowable period of six years.

Through his family company Cardinal
Horticultural Services, Tony undertook
a range of other activities, usually in
collaboration with Frances.

He was the mushroom industry’s R&D
coordinator, including managing the
new purpose-built facility at Sydney
University. As well as seeing the need
and being responsible for establishing
the Australian Potato Industry Council,
he and Frances provided the initial
Secretariat.

His knowledge and experience As founding editor of “Good Fruit & Vegetables” Tony was an infl uential industry
of greenhouse horticulture and communicator.
hydroponics in the UK, combined with
collaborative research he undertook
with Rick Donnan in Australia on the use reference book for gardeners, published He would regularly address industry
of rockwool, led to major advances in the by the Royal Horticultural Society. Its meetings and fi eld days. He also
technology and its application. on-going popularity resulted in regular undertook a number of volunteer
updates over succeeding decades. projects in the Pacifi c and Asia,
He was largely responsible for associated with communication and
establishing the Australian Hydroponics His prolifi c writing continued in 1985, education.
Association (now Protected Cropping when he co-authored “Principles of
Australia) and providing the foundation Vegetable Crop Production”, published in His services and contribution to
Secretariat. the UK and distributed internationally. Australian horticulture were justly
recognised in 2004 when he was
His experience and attention to detail Volunteering was in Tony’s DNA. He awarded the prestigious Graham
made Tony a natural choice to review was a strong believer in the Australian Gregory Medal.
a range of horticultural programs. Society for Horticultural Science, as
In addition, he was a signifi cant co- a founding member and president/
contributor to a number of production co-president from 2000 to 2004. For (P46) Photo Credit: Kelvin Tsui, Rabbit Photo
and marketing projects in diff erent parts many years Cardinal Horticultural Richmond, NSW
of Australia and across industries. Services provided the Secretariat
Prior to arriving in Australia Tony for the Australian Plant Propagation
had written “Vegetables”, a practical Association. Story provided courtesy of John Baker -
Produce Marketing Australia.



Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 47

MEET THE








MEMBER












Tomasz Kuczmaszewski WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE WHAT WAS THE MOST
PASTIME? SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN YOUR
Sylvan WHOLE CAREER SO FAR?
I enjoy football. I am a big Real Madrid
fan, and due to the diff erent time zone Being part of the innovative team at
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU now, I have to get up at 3 am to watch Sylvan’s that brought new products to
BEEN IN THE MUSHROOM football live. I also enjoy movies, reading, market.
INDUSTRY?
WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST
I started my venture in the mushroom mm THIN
THING YOU HAVE EVER
industry in 2004 with Sylvan in the DON
DONE?
United Kingdom. Originally coming
from a creative arts background Di Diffi ffi c cuu
Diffi cult to pick just one, and I am
(music), I took the opportunity with not sure if it would be suitable for
no not t
Sylvan Quality Team to learn about publication.
pu pu
mushroom spawn production and
mushroom growing, and I haven’t DO YOU HAVE A
looked back since. NICKNAME, AND IF SO,
WHAT IS IT AND WHY?
WHAT IS THE MOST
DIFFICULT TASK I had several nicknames when
YOU HAVE HAD TO I was young. Almost all related
UNDERTAKE WHILE IN to sports, some of my friends
MUSHROOMS? still call me “Kukoc” – an NBA
basketball player from Croatia
I think one of the most who played for the Chicago Bulls
challenging tasks I have i i in Michael Jordan’s championship
encountered so far is both exciting te te
team.
and innovative. For the past ten
years, I have had the privilege to work rrk k WHA
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE
alongside Sylvans incredible research h h MOVIE?
MOV
and development team to introduce
many new strains of mushrooms to I love watching movies, so I can’t
the market, including; Sprint, Mylo Pro, pick just one: The Intouchables, The
Tuscan 820 and exotics strains. Though Shawshank Redemption, The Pursuit
one of the most challenging and lengthy of Happiness, Better call Saul, and it’s
tasks to date, it has given me so much music, exploring historical places and always a good time to watch an episode
joy and pride to work with some of the spending time with my family. of Friends.
most brilliant minds in the industry.
AS A STUDENT, WHAT DID WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST YOU WANT TO DO OR BE MEAL?
STRENGTH / TALENT? AFTER YOUR SCHOOLING?
I like trying new dishes, but if I had to
My patience and my ability to work I wanted to be a footballer or sports choose one dish, it would be a medium-
under pressure and with other people. journalist. rare fi llet steak with vegetables.










48 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021