The 2025 Mushroom scholarship fund recipients
The Hort Innovation Mushroom Fund Scholarship Program, delivered by the AMGA, is opening doors for the development of knowledge in mushroom production. Backed by the industry’s R&D levy, this international education initiative gives Australian Agaricus mushroom growers and compost producers the chance to dive deeper into critical topics, learn from global expertise, and bring those insights home to strengthen the entire industry.
In 2025, the scholarships will provide six recipients with partial funding support to participate in the Mushroom Compost Masterclass. Facilitated by Mark den Ouden from the Mushroom Office, the masterclass is comprised of self-paced online learning modules followed by a five day intensive study tour in Europe.
Manipulating Agaricus bisporus developmental patterns by passaging microbial communities in complex substrates
The cultivation of Agaricus bisporus depends on a delicate balance of microbial interactions in the compost – which provides nutrients, and the casing layer – which supports fruiting.
While some bacteria are known to influence mushroom growth, researchers have had little opportunity to study how entire microbial communities shape developmental patterns.
This study explored whether deliberately altering these microbial communities could shift the way mushrooms develop, with the longer-term goal of improving yield management and sustainability.
Mushrooms in China
Insights from Shanghai scientists
One of the key objectives of the Australian mushroom industry is to increase annual consumption from approximately 2.8kg to 4kg per person. Our current consumption is similar to that in the USA, Ireland and the UK, but higher than that in Europe, which is only 1.3kg per person annually.
However, these consumption rates are tiny compared to China. In 2023 China produced around 44 million tonnes of mushrooms. Given a population of 1.4 billion, some estimates put annual consumption at up to 29kg per person.
MLMRU update Spring 2025
A new project has commenced to help secure the future of the MLMRU over the next three years.
The project, Marsh Lawson: Elevating Mushroom Excellence Through Continual Research (MU24005) is a three-year levy-funded project that builds on the previous project and will continue to provide management and research services at the MLMRU.
This investment is designed to help the mushroom industry drive innovation, facilitate sustainable business practices, adopt best practice beyond compliance, adapt to climate change, and foster new expertise through dedicated R&D pathways.
Margin’s Mushrooms - From fizz to fungi, a grower’s journey
In a world increasingly dominated by ‘Big Players’, whether you are running sport, selling chemicals or growing mushrooms, it is refreshing to find a small family business that is not only surviving, but thriving. MushroomLink recently had the pleasure of visiting Margin’s Mushrooms on the beautiful NSW Central Coast, spending time with dynamic owners Kim and Christine Margin.
The mushroom RD&E investment cycle
In the final instalment, Mushroom Fund Research, Development and Extension Coordinator (RDEC) Dr Carly Rosewarne explains how projects are managed after contracting.
Transforming ideas into contracted projects takes considerable effort, as outlined in Parts 1 and 2 of this series.
The hard work does not stop there – in fact, it is just getting started! One of the first tasks for Delivery Partners – the teams that have been contracted to achieve the outcomes – is to prepare their project planning paperwork. This includes a risk management plan, stakeholder engagement plan, communications plan, and a monitoring and evaluation plan.
STRONGER TOGETHER Recap of the 2024 AU + NZ Mushroom Growers Conference
The 45th AMGA Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau Aotearoa/Auckland New Zealand marked the first conference collaboration between the Australian Mushroom Growers Association and the New Zealand Commercial Mushroom Growers Federation. In October, over 150 delegates, representing all parts of the mushroom industry from around the world, met to network and learn.
Interpreting the principles of pinning
“I THINK OF MUSHROOM CULTURE AS A MOSAIC. THERE’S A LOT OF PIECES THAT ALL HAVE TO FIT TOGETHER PERFECTLY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE BIG PICTURE.”
So says Raymond Samp, a lifelong student of the entire Agaricus mushroom mosaic.
Managing pinning is a key piece of that puzzle. This means that understanding the pinning process is essential for growers to control mushroom quality and meet market requirements.
Mushroom levy-funded Nuffield Fellowship
Travel the world and discover new opportunities for the mushroom industry with a prestigious Nuffield Scholarship. Receive a $40,000 bursary to step back from your business and grow your skills.
This is a unique opportunity for professionals across all agricultural sectors—including those in the mushroom industry—to connect with global experts, expand networks, and drive change. Whether you’re interested in cutting-edge production methods, sustainability, or market development, this scholarship allows you to research a topic that can transform your business, community, and industry.
The mushroom R&D investment cycle
In this instalment, Mushroom Fund Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) Coordinator Dr Carly Rosewarne explains how her role supports Hort Innovation to manage the process of converting investment recommendations into contractable projects.
Meet the mushroom R&D SIAP
The Mushroom R&D Strategic Investment Advisory Panel (SIAP) provides Hort Innovation with advice about how mushroom R&D levy funds should be invested to deliver value for levy payers and the industry.
The SIAP oversees the development and execution of the Mushroom Strategic Investment Plan (SIP), provides advice to Hort Innovation guided by SIP investment priorities, identifies and endorses RD&E opportunities, and assists with monitoring and evaluation of levy funded projects. Dr Carly Rosewarne interviewed the panellists and the AMGA CEO to get their thoughts – why they joined, industry challenges and opportunities, fungi facts, and the best ways to enjoy eating mushrooms.
Establishment of the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit
December 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of the official opening of the Marsh Lawson Mushroom Research Unit (MLMRU) at Sydney University.
The Unit is currently undergoing a major renovation and has quite a history, occupying as it does a prime piece of real estate right at the edge of the Chancellors Oval at Gadigal Green. But how did our small, experimental unit come to be in such a valuable location? And why does it even exist?
Stuart Whitehall and Umberto Calvo on drip irrigation & supplements
In this MushroomLink podcast, Stuart discusses the strategic use of drip irrigation with AHR’s own mushroom grower Umberto Calvo. Umberto has conducted trials with a similar system at the March Lawson Mushroom Research Unit. With the potential to improve later flushes and even create nutritionally enhanced mushrooms, our panel discuss the mixed challenges and solutions offered by drip irrigation for mushrooms.
Podcast hosted by Dr Jenny Ekman, AHR.
Stuart Whitehall from Nutrigain has been working with mushrooms almost his entire life. Growing up on a family farm, he earned his pocket money selling spent compost from the tender age of 9. Over several decades in the industry he has both witnessed and driven a host of innovations, from spawn production and trading to biological pest control with nematodes. Stuart has now diversified into nutritional supplements, including the delivery of liquid solutions through drip irrigation systems.
Umberto Calvo from AHR graduated in 2018 from the Università di Torino in Italy, and recently came to Australia to explore agricultural sciences in a completely different environment. With experience in Precision Viticulture in Spanish wine regions he is interested in precision and data-driven agriculture, remote sensing and horticulture crops. He is currently involved in a wide variety of projects from post-harvest avocado quality to mushroom growing techniques.
Stronger together: Recap of the 2024 AU + NZ Mushroom Growers Conference
The 45th AMGA Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau Aotearoa/Auckland New Zealand marked the first conference collaboration between the Australian Mushroom Growers Association and the New Zealand Commercial Mushroom Growers Federation. In October, over 150 delegates, representing all parts of the mushroom industry .
Mushroom people development strategy
Like many industries across Australia, the mushroom industry is facing challenges in attracting, developing and retaining labour, including skilled and specialist workers. The industry has also been challenged by significant consolidation in recent years.To address this issue, the mushroom industry’s first People Development Strategy was developed to provide a plan for workforce development in the industry.
KENON MUSHROOMS:Pioneering innovation in Australian exotic mushroom production
Established in 2005, Kenon Mushrooms has grown from a boutique operation into Queensland’s largest Asian mushroom producer.
Shaking up the way oyster mushrooms are produced in Australia, Kenon inoculate 2000-5000 bags per week (available for sale to other exotic growers). With locally made bags, inoculated with Kenon’s own spawn, these are some of Australia’s only truly home grown oyster mushrooms, with a yield of up to 300g oyster per 1kg substrate from the first flush.
Read more about Kenon Mushrooms and their innovations in MushroomLink Issue 10
AI isn’t just for harvesting - a new home grown tech start up
Combining an interest in mycology with 30 years’ experience as a mathematician, grower John Ward was eager to apply his knowledge in the growing rooms of his exotic mushroom farm nestled in Victoria’s high country. John has helped developed AI technology that can monitor mushroom growth stages through image recognition and sensors.
Combining an interest in mycology with 30 years’ experience as a mathematician, grower John Ward was eager to apply his knowledge in the growing rooms of his exotic mushroom farm nestled in Victoria’s high country. John has helped developed AI technology that can monitor mushroom growth stages through image recognition and sensors.
Shortening the Cycle
One of the highlights of the recent ISMS Conference in Las Vegas was the opportunity to meet senior researcher Dr Nancy Pyck, and hear about some of the work they have been conducting at the amazing INAGRO Facility in Belgium. I had a chance to talk to Nancy after her presentation, and discuss the work further.
One of the highlights of the recent ISMS Conference in Las Vegas was the opportunity to meet senior researcher Dr Nancy Pyck, and hear about some of the work they have been conducting at the amazing INAGRO Facility in Belgium. I had a chance to talk to Nancy after her presentation, and discuss the work further.
Managing the Mushroom Biome
As fungi go, Agaricus mushrooms are surprisingly social. Unlike some other species, Agaricus bisporus not only grows better in the presence of other microorganisms, but may actually require them to grow, mature, and form harvestable mushrooms.
As fungi go, Agaricus mushrooms are surprisingly social. Unlike some other species, Agaricus bisporus not only grows better in the presence of other microorganisms, but may actually require them to grow, mature, and form harvestable mushrooms.
Monaghan Mushrooms
Monaghan Mushrooms is one of the largest mushroom-only companies in the world. Started by Ronnie Wilson in the early 1980s, it has grown to a company of more than 3,000 staff, with composting yards and growing facilities in Ireland, the UK and Canada. Like many mushroom businesses, Monaghan Mushrooms is facing the dual challenge of increasing productivity while also improving sustainability. To achieve this, the company invests strongly in Research and Development (R&D), and are heavily invested in the search for an alternative to peat.
Monaghan Mushrooms is one of the largest mushroom-only companies in the world. Started by Ronnie Wilson in the early 1980s, it has grown to a company of more than 3,000 staff, with composting yards and growing facilities in Ireland, the UK and Canada. Like many mushroom businesses, Monaghan Mushrooms is facing the dual challenge of increasing productivity while also improving sustainability. To achieve this, the company invests strongly in Research and Development (R&D), and are heavily invested in the search for an alternative to peat.
