BIOSCHAMP Final Event: Showcasing a Sustainable Mushroom Cultivation
On September 5th, 2024, the BIOSCHAMP project reached its culmination with a highly anticipated Final Fvent held at ETSIAAB in Madrid. After more than four years of rigorous research and innovative development, the event provided a platform to share the project’s significant achievements in creating a sustainable alternative to peat casing for the mushroom industry. The Mushroom Technological Research Centre of La Rioja (CTICH) organized the event, with support from Innovarum, the project's Dissemination and Communication leader.
The event opened at 9:00 AM with a welcome address, followed by an overview of the event's agenda. Attendees were then introduced to the promising results of BIOSCHAMP, which aims to address the environmental challenges posed by traditional casing in mushroom cultivation. The morning continued with insightful presentations on the future of peat in Europe, featuring key speakers like Roxanne van Roojen from Kekkila-BVB, who discussed the broader implications of smarter growing methods, Helen Grogan from Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre, who highlighted alternative approaches to peat within the mushroom sector and Ivanka Milenkovic from Ekofungi, who brought a producer's perspective.
The discussion on the future of peat was complemented by a session on the evolving landscape of pesticide use in European agriculture. Experts, including Ignacio de Anchorena from BASF, Herminia De la Varga from FERTINAGRO, and Natalia Nogueira from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who provided perspectives on the readiness of European agriculture for a future without chemical pesticides. This session emphasized the importance of regulatory frameworks as critical factors in the transition to more sustainable agricultural practices.
The event concluded with a presentation on the related EU project called NOVATERRA, which is focused on reducing the impact of pesticides and promoting sustainable agriculture in Europe. The session served as a bridge between the BIOSCHAMP initiative and broader efforts across the continent to advance environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
As the BIOSCHAMP project draws to a close, its potential impact on the mushroom industry is promising. The development of a sustainable, low-peat casing material represents a significant step towards more environmentally responsible agricultural practices. However, further investigation and testing will be necessary before these innovations can be confidently brought to market. While the insights gained from BIOSCHAMP lay a strong foundation, continued collaboration and innovation will be crucial in ensuring that these solutions are both practical and effective in shaping the future of sustainable mushroom cultivation and reducing agriculture's environmental footprint.
