The table gathering the European Associations of mushroom growers met in Brussels to discuss the issues that occurred over the past year. Andrea Prando (president of AIF) and Romeo Fuser (vice-president of GEPC) attended representing Italy.
During a first closed-door session, the sector discussed a few common problems to try and find solutions for the lack of labor that is affecting the entire EU area. The European group then talked about the general drop in fresh produce consumption, which though is not affecting the mushroom sector as badly, as the produce is now always available on the market and is no longer seasonal, unlike other productions.
"A particular focus was dedicated to organic mushrooms, which represent 5 to 8% of the total on average in the various countries. According to producers, the lack of evolution is also due to European regulations, which have caused quite a few problems for producers. These were illustrated during meetings with DG AGRI, in the presence of EU officials specialized in organic products who understood the obstacles the current regulations are creating," says Prando.
Another important aspect was the increase in the cost of raw materials, which are not compensated by the increase in prices. In particular, the cost of energy has eroded the margins and packaging is also an issue.
As for production, there are drops in leading countries such as Poland (-35,000 ton), which though maintains a stable share of exports towards the EU and the Netherlands (10,000 tons). These are however figures that remain within the limits of normal market fluctuations.
"From a productive point of view, the EU is self-sufficient for European necessities and, in 2023, extra-European exports amounted to 1,200,000 tons, mainly of Portobello mushrooms (Agaricus Bisporus). The Italian production remained stable at 62,000 tons".
"We discussed a series of problems deriving from the regulations on peat, which will be the object of a study carried out by GEPC also with the involvement of other DGs, as they are causing issued in other sectors as well. The imports of Shiitake and Pleurotus Ostreatus substrates from China were also discussed and DG Agri was asked to monitor imports, as they do not seem very clear," added Romeo Fuser.
For further information:
AIF
Associazione italiana
Fungicoltori
Via Torricelli, 71/A 37100 Verona
+39 045 952058
info@fun.go.it
www.fun.go.it