Local produce causes new dynamic in mushroom sector

"The mushroom production is growing very quickly globally. The expectations are that it will double over the coming 5 years," says Jan Janssen, project manager of Mushroom Valley. The growth potential isn't so much a chance for the Dutch production companies but mainly for the suppliers of knowledge, skill and technology. "A completely new dynamic around local produce is coming into existence, you can see this in more sectors," says Jan. 

"The supplying sector that has developed around Horst aan de Maas, sees insufficient prospects in the Netherlands itself. They have gone international and have developed into successful players. The Dutch company supplies turn-key production plant globally. Around 80% of the global mushroom production uses the knowledge, skill and technology of the mushroom sector from the Brightlands Regio Greenport Venlo. This was visible at the last North American Mushroom Conference in Canada, around half of the 30 to 40 companies present were from the Netherlands. The conference was visited by nurseries and companies from Canada, the United States and the rest of the world."

To continue to be players at a global level, these companies must continue to develop. A large number have now joined Mushroom Valley. The Dutch primary sector and the education are very important to these companies to maintain the knowledge of mushroom cultivation and to be able to innovate. "The companies connected are knowledge competitors in the region, but the great thing is that they will share a bit a knowledge with each other in the platform," says Jan. "They have to continue to innovate. Even if it is just to get a picking robot. The hourly tariffs are getting too high, so we have to find solutions on a technological basis that offer the Dutch sector a healthy perspective."