MushroomLink Bulletin March 2025
In this edition:
FEATURE: Mushrooms in schools
PODCAST: Biopesticides with Aimee McKinnon
MARKETING: Update on the sampling program
SCHOLARSHIP: Mushroom Nuffield Scholarship
POSTCARD: Project summary in a postcard
CONTRIBUTE TO MUSHROOMLINK: Download our new contributor's flyer
MushroomLink Bulletin February 2025
In this edition:
FEATURE: Transforming the food service industry with Australian mushrooms
MARKETING: Update on the the new Mmmmmm campaign
FACTSHEET: Managing air and moisture in compost
SCHOLARSHIP: Mushroom Nuffield Scholarship
POSTCARD: Project summary in a postcard
HORT STATS: The 2023/24 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook
MushroomLink Bulletin January 2025
In this edition:
NEW MAGAZINE: MushroomLink summer edition is now available to download
FEATURE: Spotlight on mushroom harvesting
MARKETING WEBINAR: Catch up on the latest webinar
EVENT: Dr Michael Wolfin workshops
SCHOLARSHIP: Mushroom Nuffield Scholarship
POSTCARD: Project summary in a postcard
MushroomLink Bulletin December
In this edition:
Food safety program now available
Feature article: Ethylene
Nielsen data deep dive
MushroomLink Bulletin November
In this edition:
CONSUMER DATA: Explore the latest Nielsen report
MARKETING WEBINAR: Join the HI team as they unpack the Nielsen report
FEATURE ARTICLE: Studying the microscopic metropolis in compost
MUSHROOM HEALTH SCIENCE WEBSITE: Website now live
HORT FRONTIERS NEWS: Venture capital fund announced
Nielsen report November 2024
The latest mushrooms comprehensive review by Nielsen has been released, which covers the 52 weeks to October 6 and is available on the Hort IQ site (not a member yet – sign up here)
https://www.hortiq.com.au/resource/?resourceNumber=HIQ0000179.
Alternatively, these can also be found on Harvest to Home site: https://www.harvesttohome.net.au/fruitmushroomnuts/case-studies/comprehensive-reviews.
Some key findings:
Mushroom value and volume sales have declined this year at –2.6% and –2.3% respectively, with price per kilo remaining the highest at $13.22 this year.
All consumer metrics are trending down for mushrooms this year, with no obvious trigger driving declining value sales.
Price increases are driving the growth across the competitive set.
The number of households buying mushrooms online remains stable this year, there are however less shoppers buying in-store.
Sales for loose mushrooms are slightly growing this year, while pre-packed mushrooms are in in decline.
The next report will be updated in May 2025.
Hort Frontiers announcement good news for mushroom growers
This week’s announcement of the world’s first horticulture-focused venture capital fund is a significant boost for the mushroom industry, offering new opportunities to tackle key challenges and enhance growth.
The world’s first horticulture-focused venture capital fund has been launched to help combat the rising costs of farming and declining fruit and vegetable consumption in Australia.
Led by Hort Innovation, the grower-owned not-for-profit research and development corporation in partnership with Australian-headquartered investment firm Artesian, a non-levy co-investment fund of up to $60 million is on offer to high-growth, early-stage startups. The aim is to fast-track innovative products and services from inception to market readiness.
Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Fifield said now more than ever, the need to diversify investment approaches and bring onboard new thinking to benefit industry is critical.
“The Australian horticulture industry is facing unprecedented challenges - high production costs, labour issues, extreme weather impacts to name a few,” he said.
“On top of that, Australian fruit and vegetable consumption dropped by up to 8 per cent to June 2023, compared to the year before.
“To address these challenges head on, Hort Innovation has partnered with Artesian to build bigger, bolder investments in innovation and create a flexible investment framework to accelerate research and development.
“By investing in startups, we are enabling fresh ideas, never-before-seen technologies, and new ways of thinking to make growing easier, more sustainable and cost-effective, and lift consumption.”
Artesian will manage the Hort Innovation Venture Fund, with initial investments in eligible businesses to be made over the next five years.
Key Hort Innovation Venture Fund focus areas include:
Increasing productivity: Helping Australian growers to become more adaptable, resilient and financially sustainable. This may be in the use of AI to predict what to do and when to do it, new automation options, or the use of satellite technology to guide decision-making.
Sustainability: to deliver new innovations Australian growers of fruit, vegetables, nuts, turf and nursery plants can employ. For example, enhancing monitoring capabilities to optimise water use and viable options to reduce chemical use.
Consumption: to drive demand and meet changing consumer preferences and encourage healthy living. For example, naturally breeding produce that is nutrient dense, with a long shelf life while being aesthetically pleasing.
Workforce: Opportunities to upskill existing industry participants and expand local career opportunities in horticulture, particularly in the science and technology arenas.
Artesian CEO Jeremy Colless said the firm was excited about the partnership with Hort Innovation, emphasising its potential to drive impactful investments in cutting-edge technologies that will deliver sustainable, long-term benefits for Australian produce farmers and consumers.
“Delivering the world’s first horticulture-specific venture capital fund with Hort Innovation is a significant milestone and an example of how Artesian works with leading industry, corporate, government and institutional investors to develop tailor made solutions that address innovation challenges,” he said.
Mr Colless highlighted the collaboration as a unique opportunity to elevate productivity and innovation across the agriculture sector, fostering resilience and advancing Australia's position as a leader in sustainable horticulture.
Artesian currently has more than $1.2 billion in assets under management including through technology and venture capital investments across energy transformation, agrifood and natural capital, healthcare and emerging technology segments.
Mushroom grower Georgia Beattie, founder, Bulla Park Mushrooms, praised the programs focus on real outcomes for growers.
"Frontiers has an unapologetic focus on commercial outcomes and impact for Australian growers. Its approach is inherently open-ended, which is essential for fostering true innovation," she said.
Macadamia grower Henrik Christiansen said the new structure is really valuable for growers to provide feedback on what solutions can be ramped up for commercialisation.
"The industry can choose what we back, and the tech developers we partner with are going to get quality feedback to integrate into solutions. That’s the value Hort Innovation can bring to the equation."
Mushroom grower Georgia Beattie
MushroomLink Bulletin October 2024
In this edition:
NEW ISSUE OF MUSHROOMLINK: The Spring issue is out now
THAT’S A WRAP: NZ conference
UPDATED WEBSITE: Our updated site makes finding what you need easier
MARKETING CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: Missed out? Recording link available to Australian growers
MUSHROOM FUND ANNUAL INVESTMENT PLAN: Available to download
MUSHROOM HEALTH SCIENCE WEBSITE: Launching this Thursday
MushroomLink Bulletin September 2024
In this edition:
AMGA CONFERENCE: Meet the scholarship winners
NEW RESOURCES: Free posters and induction videos now available
TODAY’S WEBINAR: Don’t miss out on the SAFE MUSHROOM standard - register now
MARKETING: New campaign launch, register for the upcoming webinar now
MAGAZINE: 2025 publication schedule and content deadlines
MushroomLink Bulletin August 2024
In this edition:
FOOD SAFETY MONTH: September is food safety month
WEBINARS: Register now for the September webinars
FEATURE ARTICLE: Shortening the crop cycle
PEST AND DISEASE: Mushroom farm IPDM
RESOURCE: Mushroom Supply Chain literature review
EVENT: AMGA Conference
HORT INNOVATION UPDATES: New membership opportunity
MushroomLink Bulletin July 2024
In this edition:
NEW MAGAZINE: Winter magazine available now
WEBINARS: Catch up on the two mushroom supply chain webinars
SAVE THE DATE: Food safety month
RESOURCE: Mushroom Supply Chain Best Practice Guide
EVENT: AMGA Conference
MushroomLink Bulletin June 2024
In this edition:
Food safety month coming soon
Podcast: Dr Eoin O’Connor
Resource: Mushroom supply chain best practice guide coming soon
Webinar: Mushroom supply chain
Webinar: Hort Innovation Consumer Outlook Webinar
AMGA Conference Stronger Together, registrations now open
MushroomLink Bulletin May 2024
In this edition:
Research feature article: Lignin removal
Webinars: Upcoming supply chain webinars
Resource: Mushroom supply chain best practice guide coming soon
MushroomLink at Hort Connections
AMGA conference advert
Nuffield scholarships closing soon
MushroomLink Bulletin April 2024
In this edition:
Feature article: Mushrooms in health care settings
Publication: Supporting mushrooms as a food-based solution to vitamin D deficiency in dietary guidelines
Marketing: New strategy to inform FY2025
NEW Podcast: Dr Mark Loftus from Sylvan Bioscience
Training: Mini series - mushroom farm hygiene
Webinars: Save the date for the mushroom supply chain webinars
AMGA Conference 2024
MushroomLink Bulletin March 2024 - Magazine Autumn Issue
In this edition:
MushroomLink magazine: Autumn issue out now
Feature article: Cold mushrooms are quality mushrooms
Marketing: What’s planned in the coming months?
Podcasts: Revisit the MushroomLink podcast back catalogue
Fact sheet: Actions points to control Sciarid and Phorid flies
AMGA conference scholarship
Nuffield scholarships now open
MushroomLink Bulletin February 2024 - FY25 Marketing strategy webinar recording
In this edition:
Launch of the 2022/23 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook
Webinar: Catch up on last week's webinar with Monique Emmi
Feature article: It’s not easy being green. New advances in Trichoderma research
Audio article: Phorid ecology and management
Dr Agaricus: What is foaming disease?
MushroomLink 2024 publication schedule
MushroomLink Bulletin January 2024 - Marketing webinar
In this edition:
Marketing webinar: REGISTRATIONS OPEN
New developments from the mushroom SIAP
Feature article: Growing mushrooms with AI assistance
Listen: NEW: Audio article - Chemical storage
NEW resource: Taking your mushrooms' temperature
Research from around the world: New biofilm that improves postharvest quality
ISMS conference with side symposium
Project MU22010 – Mushroom International Study Tours – Inbound and Outbound
Part of the in- and outbound International Study Tours project, the inaugural Mushroom Production workshop, facilitated by Erik de Groot, was held in Adelaide and Sydney at the end of August
Figure 1: Robert Tolson at Premier Mushrooms explaining the room-filling procedure and machinery on his farm (Umberto Calvo)
US-based international consultant and mushroom expert Erik de Groot delivered the 2-day workshops to industry members eager to learn.
Elbows deep in compost and mushrooms since his childhood in the Netherlands, Erik’s knowledge and experience range from compost production to harvesting and everything in between, with clients spread across five continents.
With the aim to educate and inspire the Australian mushroom industry and promote collaborative problem solving, attendees were asked to work together in small groups. Participants were split into these groups depending on their role (compost production, growing, harvesting) to encourage conversation within their areas of expertise and generate new ideas and solutions to current issues.
The first day of the workshop focussed on compost production, phase II and III compost, tunnel and growing room filling, and the optimal conditions of the various stages (temperature, humidity, ventilation). The attendees involved in compost production were the most active throughout the first day, while growers and harvest managers were able to better understand the dynamics of the phases that precede their entry into the crop cycle.
Figure 2: Attendees were invited to "have a feel" of good quality peat with adequate moisture (Umberto Calvo)
Day 1 also included a farm visit to Costa Monarto in South Australia and Premier Mushrooms in the Hawkesbury, with the farm staff showing the facilities, machinery, and explaining the various steps of their mushroom production and management.
The second day was centred on growing and harvesting practises to optimise yield and quality, with a particular focus on harvest efficiency and planning.
At the end of the session each group had to elaborate on the actions they were planning on taking back to their farm with the newly acquired knowledge from the workshop.
The event was very well received by all attendees, both thanks to the broad scope of themes and the opportunity to expand their network vertically with people from their own farm and peers across different farms.
The opportunity to network with colleagues from different parts of one’s own workplace was viewed as an important outcome. Communication and collaboration throughout every step of the process, from compost production to growing and harvesting, can have a big impact on the overall result, and ultimately determine the farm’s and farmer’s bottom line.
At the end of the two-day workshop the participants were asked to complete an evaluation and suggestion form, which will assist AMGA as it plans the next events. Attention will be placed on the topics and issues identified by the Australian mushroom industry as the most relevant right now.
Additional resources
Hort Innovation Annual Fund report 2021/2022
What happened in the Mushroom Fund last year?
The 2021/2022 annual report for the Mushroom levy funds is out now.
The report covers what has been delivered this year, how the R&D levy has been invested over the year and how the fund is being managed.
A list of minor use permits for the potato industry, current as of the 15th of August 2022, is also provided.
Collaborative Marketing Workshop with the Mushroom Industry
By Emma Day, Marketing Manager HIA
Hort Innovation’s commitment to working more closely with the mushroom industry in matters relating to marketing came to realisation in early September, with the first co-design workshop. Earlier in the year the AMGA were invited to identify three to four industry representatives to be a part of the co-design panel.
The outcomes of the workshop will inform the development of evidence-based marketing strategies for 23-26, and an annual marketing investment plan for F23, ensuring that these plans are built on robust analysis, contain actions that clearly link to demand creation and facilitate transparent measurement and evaluation of actions and impact.
The workshops took place in Sydney, with representatives from the Mushroom Industry joining HIA Marketing, Data and Insights, and Industry Strategic Partnership personnel for two busy and productive days to jointly develop the marketing plans. The workshops were run by Jane Smith and Kylie Hudson, General Managers Marketing, with presentations from many of the HIA Mushroom team.
The Mushroom Industry was represented by Leah Bramich, GM AMGA, Kyle Davies, Marland Mushrooms, Georgia Beattie, Bulla Park, Tim Archibald, White Prince, with apologies from Elisa Siliato from Costa.
Day One focused on a big data download and share. Presentations were given on the broader market context of consumer’s lives, industry feedback on important issues, the retail and trading environment in which we all operate, the consumer and shopper, needs and occasions, and a FY22 activity evaluation. As a group we then prioritised our learnings and implications and agreed on the focus for our plan and who we should target.
Day Two we regrouped and then defined the big shifts required from consumers to grow the Mushroom category and set our vision and goals according to what our category would stand for in the minds of consumers. With clear objectives, we could define the key strategic pillars which will underpin the activities arising from this marketing plan.
A brainstorming session resulted in a detailed one-year plan, as well as a more future-looking horizon plan. This was followed by the business of budgeting and how we might allocate the marketing funds for year one.
With all this valuable input, the HIA marketing team will now create the detail of the plan around our agreed vision, goals, and strategic pillars. The plan will be presented to the SIAP on 20 September for approval.
In the meantime, the first part of the plan details the 12 key facts gained from the data download on day one. These insights are the key pieces of data that drove our decision making as a team, and we thought worth sharing with the industry.
