The Future Of Casing Soils In The Mushroom Industry: BIOSCHAMP And Kekkilä-BVB
Peat is a basic raw material for casing soil because of its many good properties: it contains no weeds or pathogens, it has buffering functions for pH and an optimal pH level for mycelium growth can be easily obtained, it can hold water well, yet has enough air available for good growth, it has a firm structure that doesn’t change during the growing, it is harvested under very strict environmental regulations, and it is available in larger volumes.
That said, the mushroom industry is facing challenges. For example, lack of efficient solutions to fight mushroom diseases, or the need for more sustainable casing soil options.
BIOSCHAMP is working to develop a low-peat solution that addresses these issues, gathering expert partners and producers from across Europe to work around it. In this context, Kekkilä-BVB contributes to the blog with an update on their overall work with casing soils for the mushroom industry:
In our commitment to staying ahead of the curve, we are proud to announce the opening of our state-of-the-art casing soil factory in Wanssum, the Netherlands—a hub for producing the casing soil of tomorrow, accessible via both water and land.
Crafted from high-quality European raw materials, our casing soil delivers exceptional results. We specialise in providing top-quality casing soil tailored to the diverse needs of a wide range of growers.
Our priority is a sustainable future. Therefore, as part of our involvement in the BIOSCHAMP project, we actively explore alternative raw materials with minimal environmental impact to create the casing soil of tomorrow. Additionally, we invest significantly in modern research facilities to maintain consistent product quality. Our dedicated team at Kekkilä-BVB Research conducts rigorous tests on, among others, water uptake capacity, pH levels, and adhesive strength of our casing soil products. We continuously develop new recipes to ensure a future-proof and sustainable lineup.
As part of our latest offering, we are excited to introduce "BVB Green Plus," a casing soil combining our high-quality peat with a special type of green compost. This unique combination, achieved through our advanced production process, delivers excellent results while reducing your ecological footprint.
About Kekkilä-BVB
Kekkilä-BVB is one of Europe’s leading companies in professional growing and the largest producer of horticultural peat. When it comes to supplying mushroom growers with top-quality casing soil, Kekkilä-BVB stands out as a trusted global provider with their BVB Substrates casing soil brand. It understands the diverse needs of growers worldwide, offering casing soil in different densities and moisture levels while maintaining a strong focus on hygiene standards.
Click here if you would like to know more about Kekkilä-BVB.
Within the BIOSCHAMP project, Kekkilä-BVB is one of the industrial partners in charge of the design and optimisation at industrial scale of the BIOSCHAMP solution. Besides, Kekkilä-BVB also contributes to the BIOSCHAMP project as raw material provider.
Learn more about the project partners of the BIOSCHAMP project and their work here:
