PLANT-based burgers and bangers that could “revolutionise” food production in the UK have finally hit the shelves.

MYCO’s pioneering range has been rolled out having been in development for well over a year.

The products are made from Hooba, the Yorkshire firm’s own plant-based protein. Hooba is manufactured under the same roof as Myco’s pioneering vertical farm, where the oyster mushrooms used to create the protein are grown.

This completely unique production process, which results in reduced food miles, has resulted in Myco being heralded as creating ‘Britain’s Greenest Burger’.

Now 10,000 of those burgers – along with 20,000 Hooba sausages – have initially been produced for the long-awaited launch.

“Developing and perfecting these products has been a true labour of love, so to finally bring them to market is an incredibly proud moment,” said Sales Director, Andy Fenner.

“Myco’s team is full of parents and grandparents who want to play their part in giving our planet a future. Humans eat too much meat, so we need to find ways to make swapping it out of our diets a bit more appetising.

“We wanted to manufacture a product that matched meat for texture and taste – and the feedback has been glowing.

“In a blind taste test, our sausages and burgers beat some of the biggest plant-based brands in Britain, and there was high praise for the mouthfeel which, historically, has been one of the big stumbling blocks to people eating less meat.

“Our next goal is to get Hooba onto shelves and tables across the country and let suppliers and customers see how good it tastes for themselves.

“We are over-the-moon that our range is finally packaged and ready to go and given how little impact its production has on our planet, we believe this could revolutionise the way food is manufactured. Our hope is that our sustainable manufacturing process could become a blueprint for the food industry.”

Having already agreed listings with multiple suppliers, including some leading artisanal and plant-based wholesalers, the team have also been in pre-launch discussions with a range of retailers with the view of stocking and using Hooba.

And production will be ramped up considerably over the coming years.

Having appointed former Vbites boss David Wood as CEO, Myco is set to create around 70 jobs following a £1.2m investment earlier this year.

Those jobs will be based at the Leeming Bar production plant, which is the first in Britain to both grow and manufacture a plant-based protein under the same roof.

Source: Myco

Europe is now at the time of the year summer will burst out. And every year the same growing problems occur at this time, getting worse and worse every year.

Summers seem to get hotter and it is time to adapt before real growing problems are there. There are a number of things growers can do but of course a good cooling system is a must. Well calculated, fitting the circumstances of your own country. But even the best cooling system will not cover everything. If we take the summer temperature last year in Holland at 42° nobody has a cooling system which will handle these extreme temperatures in our country.
If at the same moment also the relative humidity is high it is not only cooling but also the heating that counts. And that brings me to the first mistake many growers make. In summer switch of the heating system. Its hot enough outside, I do not need heating. Wrong!!!

De-humidification only works if the cooling can work in combination with a bit of heating. So, by switching of the heating the system can make the air dryer anymore. And you need dry air to cool a hot room. The easiest way to cool a growing room is to give water to the casing soil. The best way is to give many small quantities up to 2 litres. That can be evaporated again. Spread the watering over 24 hours. The dry air coming into the room will take care of the evaporation and will help cooling the growing room. Keep the casing soil wet but the floor as dry as possible. That is why I do not close the room completely if the outside is hot but dry. It is possible to use air which is much higher than the compost temperature as long as the incoming air is dryer than the air in the room.

In the mollier diagram one can calculate how much fresh air is necessary to absorb the evaporated water in the room. And for that cooling by evaporation you only need a few litres of water extra. No extravagant quantities as some growers tend to do. An extra help will be some mobile coolers on the farm. They can be placed into the room just before the heat surge is starting. The price of such a mobile cooler is a lot lower than the costs of losing a room.But in the end, judging a room is important. If compost is active and the C/N ration is relatively high one can expect activity. It is of outmost importance that cooling starts before the surge starts. Once a compost is going up it is hard or impossible to stop it.

The Growtime company has been steadily increasing exports and securing the confidence of major agricultural enterprises worldwide.

How GROWTIME and Osatina Grupa came together: a leap of faith that paid off

GROWTIME has again signed a contract with Osatina Grupa, a leading agricultural company in Croatia, for the supply of Newton mushroom picking lorries. Osatina Grupa, headquartered in the beautiful Đakovština area, is renowned for its comprehensive agricultural operations, including fruit and vegetable farming, dairy and meat production, animal feed production, and the generation of bioenergy. Their diversified and synergistic business model, which has been perfected over more than 25 years, emphasizes sustainability and modern technology.

The story of our collaboration with Osatina Grupa is one of risk, trust, and long-term success. As a large and innovative corporation, Osatina Grupa was a highly sought after business partner. They had numerous offers, many of which were less costly than what GROWTIME could provide. Negotiations during the COVID-19 pandemic added to the challenge, as physical presentations of our products were limited and travel was impossible due to the restrictions imposed.

Despite these hurdles, our high-quality and efficient products and the promise of lower overhead in the long run convinced Osatina Grupa to choose GROWTIME. They decided to take a risk on our more expensive Newton mushroom picking trolleys, driven by the argument that these high-quality devices would be more cost-effective over time.

A decision proven right
The initial cost of our trolleys appeared higher, but the investment was projected to pay off through superior performance and reliability. Osatina Grupa’s faith in our products was validated when they returned to GROWTIME for more of the same Newton picking trolleys a few years later, proving the wisdom of their original decision. This repeat business speaks volumes about the quality of our offering.

For GROWTIME, a client returning for the same product is the highest form of endorsement. It underscores that the initial investment, despite the higher initial price, was justified by the long-term benefits. The repeated orders from Osatina Grupa confirm the value and effectiveness of our solutions, showcasing our dedication to developing products that align perfectly with customer demands.

Cutting-edge Newton as well Pascal trolleys drive GROWTIME’s global success
A key driver behind this international success is GROWTIME's innovative products such as Newton & Pascal mushroom picking trolley. Known for their exceptional quality and cost-effectiveness, the Newton and Pascal trolleys has quickly become a favorite among large-scale mushroom producers. It was Osatina Grupa’s top choice then, and it’s their top choice now.

The trolleys feature from Growtime a robust design and user-friendly functionality, including electric drives and winches that automate the movement of the platform. This not only improves the ergonomics of the work but also increases the yield by allowing more precise and efficient picking. Additionally, the trolleys are equipped with advanced safety features and easy-to-use controls, ensuring both high performance and worker safety.

Moreover, Newton as well Pascal lorries ensure a quick return on investment due to their aforementioned low maintenance costs and high effectiveness. This combination of reliability and efficiency has made them a preferred option for agricultural enterprises looking to optimize operations and reduce overhead. For more information about the Newton mushroom picking trolleys and to explore GROWTIME's full range of products, visit this link.

Water can be purified using mushroom substrate: the mixture of fungal filaments and horse manure that remains after harvesting mushrooms. The substrate effectively decreases concentrations of pesticides and drugs in contaminated water.

Utrecht University researchers Brigit van Brenk, Han Wösten, and colleagues demonstrate this in a paper in the scientific journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. The results show the potential of the substrate as a promising alternative to current water purification methods.

White button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are grown on composted, sterilized horse manure. Grains containing the fungus are mixed into the compost, from which fungal filaments grow that fill the compost. Fruiting bodies of the fungus, mushrooms, eventually develop from this network of filaments.

But what to do with the substrate after the mushrooms are harvested? In the Netherlands, not much is done with the leftover waste: instead, large quantities are sent to Germany to be used as fertilizer. But couldn’t the substrate be put to better use

Enzymes

Van Brenk and her colleagues suspected that there might be a better way to use the substrate. Fungi that live off dead plant material, such as white button mushrooms, make enzymes to break down lignin. However, these enzymes are not highly specific, and it has been shown that they also break down substances other than lignin.

The researchers therefore decided to investigate the potential of using the leftover waste from mushroom cultivation to purify contaminated water. After all, concentrations of drug residues, pesticides and other harmful substances in surface water and groundwater are increasing, posing a threat to aquatic life forms. Moreover, existing methods of purifying water of such substances are expensive.

Please read the full article here.

Source: Utrecht University

Maintaining a high relative humidity and warm temperature is essential for cultivating many crops, especially in controlled growing environments. Such a warm and moist climate is ideal for rapid plant growth but can also lead to challenges such as dirty walls and rust in the underlying structures. To address these issues, specialized vaportight coating systems are essential.

Request and Assessment
When approached for renovation projects, the first step is to visit the site to assess the necessary work activities. Often, there may already be a vaportight coating system in place that needs renewal. During the site visit, it is crucial to decide whether the existing coatings need to be replaced or reinforced. Typically, this involves applying a new layer of an indoor coating to the walls and sealing corner joints and window frames with a vaportight coating system.

Phasing the Renovation
Renovating agricultural growing rooms must be done without disrupting ongoing activities. This often requires a phased approach, treating a few rooms at a time, usually about two per week. Ensuring the substrate is dry before applying the coating is vital to prevent moisture from getting trapped under the coating layer. If there is already a layer of coating, new applications can often be made immediately without a primer, except in the corners where a primer may be necessary on bare concrete.

Application Process
In corners, a primer is applied to the exposed concrete, followed by a layer of indoor coating reinforced with a fleece material to enhance durability.
A second layer of the indoor coating then seals the system, ensuring the desired vapour density and preventing moisture ingress.

Results
Over the course of several weeks, multiple rooms can be treated to achieve a fully renovated environment. During such projects, issues like leakage in cavities can occur, causing floor joints to come loose. These must be treated promptly to ensure the integrity of the renovation. Once all rooms are treated, the result is a set of growing environments that maintain optimal conditions for plant growth while protecting structural elements from moisture and corrosion.

Additional Solutions
Many modern growing rooms are constructed with panels set in U-profiles, which are prone to rusting. Besides standard coatings, there are specialized products like ProFill Metal Coat designed to prevent or address corrosion. Detailed product information is available for
those needing advanced solutions to protect metal structures.

By using advanced coating systems and a carefully phased approach, agricultural growers can ensure their growing rooms remain in top condition, promoting healthy crop growth and extending the lifespan of their facilities.


For more information, please visit the website of RibbStyle.

Author: Mushroom Matter

Phorid larvae are a dangerous pest in phase III mushroom cultivation, and they are hard to control. No management can lead to a total loss of the 3^rd flush. In addition, quality losses, distressed pickers, and fed-up neighboring communities are causing extra work you like to avoid. The flies get drifted into the houses of neighbors and like to accumulate under ceilings in e.g. warm bathrooms. Not a real pleasure when lying in the bathtub.  

The larvae are obligated mycelial feeders therefore, the adult flies are not attracted to oviposit in the compost until after spawning. The up to 6 mm long larvae feed on the growing mushroom mycelium but rarely on the fruiting body itself. They can be distinguished from sciarid larvae by the absence of the black head, and they develop more rapidly into pupa.  

Phorid fly larvae in the compost                                              Adult female phorid fly (courtesy of Penn State University) 

The adult fly can be distinguished from the sciarid fly by the short antennae and by its rapid, jerky, running movement. Adult phorids act as a vector for dry bubble. 75 flies per m² may already cause an outbreak of the disease. Phorid flies are unable to fly when the temperature falls below 12°C (54°F). In the past they have rarely infected mushroom houses after late fall. As there are now more and more warm days into November, this period is prolonged. The start of the nematode application should be in the early summer. If the fly population is fully built up it is too late. 

Further improving the already effective application of nemycel® phorid fly 

For around two years nemycel® phorid fly is used in phase III mushroom cultivation in the U.S. and Europe with effective control. After accessing the data and further research, we recommend the following change in the application: 

Old application recommendation: 

The Phorid fly has a short larvae stage which is hard to target. The larvae are only susceptible 4-5 days (at 25°C / 77°F) for nematode infestation. The nematodes last for 5 days in the compost. Therefore, a change to multiple applications with one bigger hit at casing and then less dosages later control significantly more larvae. The larvae stop feeding fast after infestation and die after 2-3 days. The nematodes multiply inside the larvae cadaver and get out to prey on more larvae after 7-10 days. 

Nematodes reproduce inside the larvae                                   Dissolved larvae cadaver and nematodes

New application recommendation:  

Control with nematodes, in combination with the farms IPM can lead to 25% more harvest, more A grade mushrooms, better working conditions for the pickers and a good relationship to your neighboring communities. Multiple applications improve efficiency significantly. 

nemycel® phorid fly is a fully organic insecticide without micro plastics and made in Germany. No resistances are known of. The product is harmless for humans, pets, water, and the environment. No protective clothing is needed, and your workers don’t need to undergo security training. 

This research was done by the Mushroom Fly Research Team at Penn State, by Dr. Michael Wolfin and Malachi Brought.  This research on mushroom farms is still ongoing to find the most effective application rates and schedules.

More information about nematode application in mushroom cultivation can be found on:

https://www.e-nema.de/en/nematodes/professionals/application-areas/mushrooms/

All pictures and videos courtesy of M. Wolfin & M. Brought | Penn State University

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

A trip to France — fruitful cooperation with Lou Légumes

GROWTIME is a company that, since its inception, has had aspirations to operate around the globe. We started with Poland and later our customer base expanded to include international collaborations. Currently, we supply mushroom farms in 17 countries and have an appetite for more, as exemplified, among others, by our recent cooperation with French mushroom farm Lou Légumes.

Lou Légumes — France is more than just the Eiffel Tower!

Mushroom production at Lou Légumes is an example of healthy, genuine, sincere and hard work of people with one goal:

To make others eat more vegetables for their health.

LOU mushrooms are grown on 3 sites: at the gates of Brittany in Poilley, in the heart of the Mayennais bocage in Landivy, and at the foot of the Auvergne volcanoes in Chaspuzac.

Such a large production requires many masterminds and a lot of attention, which translates into great quality mushrooms.

That's why we are all the more pleased that GROWTIME was able to enter into a partnership with LOU.

GROWTIME with a trip to France

LOU is a serious company, and we were well aware that cooperation would require clear communication, reliability, and quality.

However, at GROWTIME, we have these qualities written firmly into our code of honor. In addition, we know the value that our lorries offer and were happy to strike a deal for their delivery.

Why did LOU choose GROWTIME?

There are several reasons:

• our NEWTON lorries maximize work efficiency, and in today's fast-paced world, “time” is a priceless commodity,
• we delivered an entire container of lorries on the agreed date to the address of the mushroom farm,
• GROWTIME's good reputation around the world is no accident.

We are pleased that our portfolio has been enriched by a company with traditions. For us, this is further proof that the hard work to improve our lorries is not in vain.

In conclusion, we would like to thank Lou Légumes, which has put its trust in us. We are eagerly awaiting further projects to, thanks to our trolleys, increase the profitability of mushroom farms that cooperate with us, and to grow together with them.

Not hard to imagine that reduced air flow going into the compost is not good for the quality of the compost. To maintain high-quality compost, it's crucial to keep the pipes under the bunker floor clean and free from blockages. Blocked pipes can lead to water accumulation on the bunker floor as the water will not drain, and create anaerobic conditions, harming the composting process. Set up a routine to clean all the pipes thoroughly every three months. Use a hose to flush out any dirt and debris, ensuring proper airflow throughout the composting process.

Ensuring thorough cleaning of the blocked pipes is crucial, as simply flushing them with water from front to back may not be sufficient. Despite water passing through, dirt can still accumulate inside the pipes. Achieving a satisfactory result involves reaching the end of the pipes with a hose and utilizing back pressure to dislodge any remaining debris. Attached below is a picture showing completely blocked pipes and the dirt extracted from some of them. This visual evidence underscores the necessity of meticulous cleaning to maintain optimal functioning of the composting process.

When pipes get blocked in composting systems, some issues can pop up. You might see wet spots and areas without enough air (anaerobic zones) in the compost. This happens because the airflow needed for composting gets messed
up. When pipes are blocked, air can't move properly, making some parts of the compost lack oxygen. It will also be visible in the pressure on the bunker floor being reduced. All this isn't good for composting and can cause bad smells and slow decomposition.

It's important to be safe when dealing with blocked pipes in composting systems. Wear a good face mask to protect yourself from harmful gases that can build up in blocked pipes over time. Also, make sure to keep the area well-ventilated and follow safety rules to avoid accidents.

Erik de Groot
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
https://www.mushroomsconsultant.com