MushroomLink Bulletin May
In this edition
Feature article: A lifecycle assessment of the Australian mushroom industry
New resource: What are the packaging options for the mushroom industry?
Watch the new video: Dive deeper into Kennett Square
Five minutes with marketing: Turning up the heat for winter with campaign updates
The latest from Hort Innovation: 2026 Grower and Partner survey now open
Final report summary - Mushroom packaging specifications and options (MU23007)
The project MU23007: Sustainable Packaging Alternatives for Australian Mushrooms (2019–2021) was a strategic industry initiative delivered by The Growth Drivers and funded by Hort Innovation. It responded to increasing environmental, regulatory, and retailer pressure to transition away from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, supporting broader industry sustainability objectives.
The project focused on identifying and evaluating viable packaging alternatives for fresh Australian mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), aiming to maintain product quality, shelf life, and food safety while aligning with evolving national packaging regulations and sustainability targets.
The summary also includes a link to the full final report.
MushroomLink Bulletin April
In this edition
MushroomLink magazine: Autumn issue out now
Feature article: Why the ethylene project has pivoted
Save the date: AMGA conference 2027
New updates on the marketing hub: Get a full picture on all things marketing
The latest from Hort Innovation: News and events
MushroomLink Magazine Issue 16
We hope you enjoy this issue, with its usual mix of R&D news, the latest in technology from around the world, and pest and disease updates.
You can subscribe to an e-copy of MushroomLink magazine here or view previous issues here
Click here to download the magazine
Articles
Levy funded project updates
When the question changes: Why the ethylene project has pivoted
Save the date: Australian mushroom growers conference 2027
Marketing
Growing & Tech
Pest & diseases
IPDM takes significant steps forward in the Australian mushroom industry
Australian growers were first introduced to Mike Wolfin at the AMGA Conference in Auckland in 2024 - since then he’s been back down south sharing his knowledge with the Australian mushroom growers.
Dr Michael Wolfin, an insect behaviourist from Penn State University, has played an important role in advancing fly management practices and IPDM strategies within the Australian mushroom industry through his involvement in projects MU22010 and MU21007.
In this article, the Pest and Disease team summarise Mike’s key actives in Australia, and his insights from a recent 10-day tour taking in seven Australian mushroom farms.
Fungi for furniture and construction
Imagine being able to grow your own walls and furniture... not in the years it takes to grow a tree, but in the days to weeks it takes for mycelium to colonise a substrate plus post-processing.
Dr Kumar Biswajit Debnath, from the University of Technology in Sydney, is working on doing just that. MushroomLink was fortunate to meet up with Kumar to talk about his work, as well as how our industry can get a piece of the action.
Measuring mushroom quality: Changes by degree
While beauty can be in the eye of the beholder, if it can’t be measured objectively, it’s hard to compare notes ...
The most beautiful mushrooms are usually described as being smooth, firm, and white, with a short stem. But what EXACTLY do we mean by that?
New research from the University of Sydney and Applied Horticultural Research has been determining the best, most consistent, and objective ways to measure just how beautiful that mushroom is.
An update on the marketing levy
This update is all about keeping you in the loop as we work to get more Australians using mushrooms more often all year round.
Off the back of a productive Demand SIAP workshop, we’re eager to provide an update and insights into Australian Mushrooms’ marketing activity – highlighting how we’re building momentum going into autumn and winter where driving demand is key and outlining where our focus lies for the rest of FY26 and beyond as we move into FY27.
Shaping the future
Industry aligns on new mushroom investment roadmap
As Australia’s mushroom industry enters a new phase of strategic planning, Mushroom Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP) members met in Sydney in March to review future research and development (R&D) investments.
With the current five-year Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) drawing to a close in June 2026, Hort Innovation has worked closely with industry stakeholders in the transition to a new, more streamlined framework: the Mushroom Investment Roadmap.
Strengthening food safety for a unique industry
Australian mushroom growers know they run efficient, high-yield businesses. But when it comes to carbon emissions and environmental impact, many growers have been left asking the question: How do I know how my farm stacks up?
The levy project Food Safety, Quality and Risk Management for the Mushroom Industry (MU20000) is coming to an end. Building on its foundation, the AMGA will deliver a new and streamlined initiative – Food Safety Watch and Act, ensuring continued focus on proactive food safety leadership.
MU20000 has played a critical role in reinforcing industry capability, strengthening risk management systems, and ensuring that Australia’s commercial mushroom sector remains aligned with best practice food safety standards.
A lifecycle assessment of the Australian mushroom industry
Australian mushroom growers know they run efficient, high-yield businesses. But when it comes to carbon emissions and environmental impact, many growers have been left asking the question: How do I know how my farm stacks up?
Until recently, there was no reliable, industry-wide benchmark for the environmental footprint of Australian mushroom production. That made it hard for growers to understand where emissions come from, what really matters, and where to focus effort and investment.
Recognising this gap led to a new initiative to carry out a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the Australian mushroom industry.
This project set out to answer a simple but important question: What is the carbon footprint of a mushroom grown in Australia, and how can growers use this information to make practical improvements on farm?
When the question changes: Why the ethylene project has pivoted
Research does not always end where it begins. Occasionally, the most useful outcome is discovering that the original question was not quite the right one.
This has been the case with project MU24002 - Improving mushroom supply chain handling and packaging to reduce quality loss, which originally set out to investigate whether exposure to ethylene gas contributes to quality loss in fresh mushrooms as they move through the domestic supply chain.
However, the results were clear: Mushrooms were not sensitive to ethylene under the conditions tested. Even relatively high ethylene concentrations, up to 5 ppm (parts per million), did not produce browning or the types of deterioration normally associated with loss of quality.
Carbon dioxide seemed to be a greater problem.
MushroomLink Bulletin March
In this edition
Feature article: Insecticidal soap for mushroom flies
Webinar recording: Lifecycle assessment for the Australian Mushroom Industry
Project summary: Educating health professionals about Australian mushrooms (MU17002)
Podcast out now: Robert Tolson on measuring moisture content
Five minutes with marketing: What’s in store for the winter season
New marketing hub launched exclusively for levy-payers: Get a full picture on all things marketing
The latest from Hort Innovation: Upcoming workshops, resources and news
Robert Tolson from Premier Mushrooms on measuring moisture in compost
In this podcast, Jenny (AHR) interviews Robert Tolson from Premier Mushrooms about the importance of measuring and controlling moisture in compost. Robert provides first-hand insights into the small changes in technique that have helped their farm to improve yield and crop consistency.
Robert also discusses the various factors that can affect moisture in compost and explains how growers can refine their practices to suit their own farming systems. This includes the timing of moisture checks, the warning signs that levels are drifting too high, and the steps growers can take to recover stability.
This interview offers practical knowledge for producers aiming to grow more predictable, high-quality crops, while also opening the door to deeper thinking about how environmental factors can shape the growing cycle.
Podcast hosted by Dr Jenny Ekman, AHR.
Robert Tolson is owner of Premier Mushrooms and a longtime director at White Prince Mushrooms and Sylvan Australia. He brings decades of hands-on industry leadership to mushroom farming, shaping composting, cultivation, and distribution with deep industry knowledge.
Final report summary - Educating healthcare professionals about Australian mushrooms (MU17002)
The project MU17002: Educating Healthcare Professionals about Australian Mushrooms (2019–2021) was a strategic industry initiative led by Nutrition Research Australia (now FOODiQ Global) and funded by Hort Innovation. It supported the Mushroom Strategic Investment Plan goal of increasing domestic mushroom consumption to 4 kg per person by 2021 by targeting healthcare professionals (HCPs) as key influencers of dietary behaviour.
The project focused on elevating the nutrition, health, and culinary profile of Australian mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), positioning them as a distinct, evidence-backed food worthy of active recommendation to clients.
The summary also includes a link the the full final report.
MushroomLink Bulletin February
In this edition
Feature article: Mushrooms and human health
Upcoming webinar: From data to decisions | understanding the impact of Australian mushrooms
Upcoming P&D webinar: Findings and recommendations for mushroom fly control
Project summary: Mushroom food service strategy 2024-2027 (MU22102)
Five minutes with marketing: Collaboration with globally renowned pizzeria
The latest from Hort Innovation: Nuffield scholarship 2027 applications now open and upcoming webinar for the launch of 2024/2025 Australian Horticulture Statistics handbook
Activity Update: Foodservice QSR Pizza Activation
In the FY26 Australian Mushroom Marketing Plan, the Foodservice Activation is a cornerstone initiative under Pillar 3: WIN THE FUTURE – the pillar dedicated to building growth channels that will drive the category forward. Mushrooms have long performed well in foodservice, representing 26% of fresh supply, yet the category is facing a decline in both value and volume share. This activation is designed to reverse that trend, focusing on a key growth area: Pizza Quick Service Restaurants (QSR).
The strategy unfolds across three phases, each crafted to inspire chefs, engage consumers, and elevate mushrooms as a versatile, must-have ingredient.
Globally renowned pizzeria
A collaboration that promises to turn heads: Australian Mushrooms has partnered with Daniel Semrani of Gigi’s Pizzeria in Sydney for a limited-edition pop-up. Known globally for his exceptional pizza craft – even Jamie Oliver has praised his work – Semrani will debut three innovative mushroom pizzas, featuring creations like a mushroom whipped butter base and seared 'steak' mushrooms. The aim is simple: inspire chefs and foodservice operators to rethink mushrooms, highlighting their taste, texture, and creative potential. The pop-up will run throughout February, supported by media coverage and social media campaigns to spread the inspiration nationwide.
The second phase brings mushrooms directly to consumers in the QSR space. By partnering with a leading pizza QSR chain, Australian Mushrooms will co-create limited-edition mushroom pizzas promoted through in-store activations, delivery platforms like Uber Eats, and social media. This phase is all about bringing mushrooms to the mainstream, creating excitement and driving trial in one of the category’s highest-volume channels.
The activation culminates in a visible industry moment: a sponsorship at Australia’s Best Pizza Awards during Food & Hospitality Week 2026 in Sydney.
This ensures mushrooms are front and center among chefs, operators, and industry influencers, cementing their relevance in menus nationwide.
Final report summary - Mushroom food service strategy 2024-2027 (MU22102)
We've pulled together a concise two-page summary of the Mushroom food service strategy 2024-2027 (MU22102) project to make key insights from the full Hort Innovation final report easier to access.
The strategy recognises mushrooms as a well-established, year-round ingredient with strong operator acceptance, but also acknowledges the commercial pressures facing food service businesses that are constraining usage.
This summary also includes a link to the full final report.
MushroomLink Bulletin January
In this edition
MushroomLink magazine issue 15 (Summer) - Out now
Feature article: Measuring moisture content in compost
Upcoming webinar: From data to decisions | understanding the impact of Australian mushrooms
New podcast: Rebecca Martin on Bacteriophages | Unseen forces behind mushroom growth
Five minutes with marketing: Shoppers say Mmm to mushrooms
The latest from Hort Innovation: Upcoming webinar
MushroomLink Magazine Issue 15
We hope you enjoy this issue, with its usual mix of R&D news, the latest in technology from around the world, and pest and disease updates.
You can subscribe to an e-copy of MushroomLink magazine here or view previous issues here
Click here to download the magazine
Articles
Levy funded project updates
Marketing
Growing & Tech
Pest & diseases
Research & extras