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the mood in the mushroom sector remains quite tense
although this was somewhat more prominent than in previous years
the sales have picked up again significantly
the general availability of goods is currently very tight in Germany and throughout Europe
This in turn is because many producers are experiencing weaker yields than usual as a result of a wide variety of factors and influences," Matthias Surmann (pictured below) explained
Managing Director of the OMpilze cultivation company based in Goldenstedt
following a tour of the company as part of this year's BDC conference
Aerial view of the modern location in the Oldenburger Münsterland
One third of the entire operation (on the left in the picture) was converted to organic production in 2022
Difficult start for the organic divisionOMpilze GmbH & Co KG was founded in 2010 by four long-standing ELO members
the company consisted of a total of ten cultivation rooms as well as a packaging hall and offices
the site was expanded by a further five breeding rooms
the - until now - largest new extension was built
a new packaging hall and a combined heat and power plant
Since the founding of the organic division
only organic mushrooms have been cultivated in the newest construction
An insight into the organic mushroom cultivation
The farm has a total of ten breeding cells for their organic production
"But 2022 in particular was a major challenge for us and the entire industry," says Surmann
The sharp rise in the minimum wage in October 2022 had an impact on the entire wage structure on the farms
the unexpectedly drastic rise in costs following the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine meant that many companies in the sector had to deal with a drop in turnover
the resulting uncertainty among the population led to a reluctance to buy
primarily regarding brown mushrooms and especially for organic mushrooms
we actually had a comparatively difficult start with organic mushrooms that year
sales of fresh mushrooms have generally developed very positively
sustainable product and are ideal for a vegan or vegetarian diet
they also taste wonderful as a side dish with meat-based dishes."
Lorries from the nearby exclusive marketer ELO eG dock at the modern company site in Goldenstedt
Mushroom prices have tended to rise in recent years
but the price increases have not offset the cost increases over the same period
we are faced with the task of adapting our production processes so that we can continue to operate profitably
this means that we try to optimise and/or automate operational processes wherever possible
which in turn is only possible to a limited extent and is inevitably associated with very high investments."
Both the organic and conventional cultivated mushrooms are packaged in cardboard or plastic trays immediately after harvesting
in line with market requirements and customer wishes
Multiple challenges jeopardise mushroom cultivationShort and long term
the mushroom industry is facing many major industry-specific challenges that will also lead to further cost increases
referring to the core topics of this year's BDC conference
the availability of the raw materials we need to grow fresh mushrooms
which will ultimately lead to a shortage of straw
The availability of horse and chicken manure is also becoming increasingly difficult
as these materials have now also become interesting for other
we are faced with the problem that peat-based soils are to be replaced in commercial horticulture by 2030
which will directly affect us as a breeding company
This peat is only applied to the substrate as a thin covering layer; without this covering soil
we have been looking for substitutes for many years
we have not found a viable alternative in terms of quantity or quality
brown organic mushrooms for the domestic retail sector
the constantly changing regulatory challenges and political framework conditions make it difficult to survive and compete
"The best example is the implementation of the planned new packaging regulation (PPWR-VO)
which I personally consider to be very difficult or even impossible in practice for a sensitive product like mushrooms
we are constantly in close dialogue with the packaging suppliers and associations in this regard
the increased wage rises and the general shortage of harvest workers continue to be a major issue
Our team is highly motivated and committed to working proactively on the political challenges we face
We are working together to secure and further improve the level of self-sufficiency in Germany
It is important to us not only to react to changes
but also to actively develop solutions that benefit both us and the industry," Surmann concludes
Insight into the modern sorting and packaging hall
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