The company was established by Donato's father Arcangelo thirty years ago. He had already understood mushroom cultivation could be an excellent source of income alternative to traditional agriculture.
"The leading mushroom producer on a global level is China, where the products are also used for alternative medicine. Over the last few years, in fact, various studies have been carried out in virtue of the many health properties of mushrooms. Italy is currently the fourth leading European producer after Poland, Netherlands and France, even though mushrooms have always been protagonists of Italian Mediterranean cuisine," explains Donato De Biase.
The most popular mushroom is Agaricus, commonly known as button mushroom and available throughout the year. Of the other edible mushroom varieties, only a small part is cultivated.
Thirty years ago, the company started selecting local spontaneous mushrooms from the Murgia area and developed substrates so they could be grown in greenhouses.
Az. Agr. Micologica De Biasi has since become the European leader in the production of substrates for the cultivation of P. Eryngii, commonly known as King oyster mushroom.
Donato De Biasi, who shares his father's passion, started producing substrates for the cultivation of P. Ostreatus, also knows as oyster mushrooms, immediately after his degree in industrial biotechnologies.
The mission of the company is to provide final clients with carefully selected substrates for the cultivation of this mushroom variety.
Inside a mushroom house.
"To counter the invasion of foreign mushrooms often cultivated and transported in conditions that are less than clear, it was necessary to improve the professionalism in our sector. We have a sophisticated chemical-biological laboratory specialised in the checking of raw material and, most of all, in the selection of highly-productive and innovative varieties."
Az. Agr. De Biasi Donato's skills are at the disposal of producers to help them increase productivity and improve quality.
The company currently owns 6,000 sq m of greenhouses dedicated to the research of new species and quality control. Another point of strength is the direct commercialisation of fresh mushrooms, especially of the Pleurotus Ostreatus variety, for local markets and domestic retailers.
Contacts:
Funghitalia, Az. Agr. Micologica De Biasi Donato
Cda. Trio I
74011 Castellaneta (TA)
Tel.: (+39) 0998493709
Cell.: (+39) 3484181198
Email: info@funghitalia.com
Web: www.funghitalia.com