Mushroom production on the island of Ireland has transformed over the decades, from small, family-operated plastic tunnels in the 1980s and 1990s, to heavily invested industrialised production units in 2020.

Growing mushrooms is probably one of the best examples of the circular economy – straw from grain production is combined with poultry litter to produce the compost that grows mushrooms. When the crop is harvested, the compost is then recycled as a land fertiliser.

The two standout features of the past decade are the consolidation that has taken place among growers and the investment in compost production.

The number of growers has fallen in Northern Ireland from 144 in the 1990s to 20 in 2019 and from 78 to 34 in the Republic of Ireland since 2010.

Despite this, output has actually increased, growing from 16,300t in Northern Ireland to 34,300t in 2019 and from 54,000t in Republic of Ireland to 68,000t last year.

The value of the industry in Northern Ireland was £55m in 2019 and €119.2m in the Republic of Ireland.

Growth

This has been achieved by ever-increasing professionalism and investment from remaining growers, along with the almost exclusive use of phase-three compost. This is the highest-output type of compost, which would have only been in use for around half of production in 2010.

The past decade has had approximately €100m investment in compost production on the island of Ireland, with new facilities built by Walsh Mushrooms in Gorey, Co Wexford, Monaghan Mushrooms in Naas, Co Kildare, and Northway Mushrooms in Ballygawley, Co Tyrone.

Between them, these three companies produce virtually all of the compost used in the Irish mushroom industry and the availability of the most productive phase-three compost is a key reason for the growth in production level in the industry.

Key players

Monaghan Mushrooms, whose headquarters is in Tyholland, Co Monaghan, is the second-largest mushroom business in the world. It has continued its expansion over the past decade and now employs 3,500 people across 29 locations in Ireland, UK, Europe and North America, selling 1,800t of mushrooms every week.

Walsh Mushrooms is based in Gorey, Co Wexford, and acquired Golden Mushrooms in Tipperary in 2017. It also has two locations in England, rebuilding and extending the Evesham pack-house in 2016, and between the four sites, it employs 400 people and supplies 500t of fresh mushrooms to UK markets every week.

Northway Mushrooms in Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, is a producer group with members either side of the border. It opened its £25m substrate (composite) production facility last year and also provides a marketing service for its members.

The future

The mushroom industry believes the product has great potential to move from mainstream retail and catering markets into the superfood category, with potential to further add value through high-protein varieties and as an ingredient in plant-based products.

Thanks to Kieran Lavelle, CAFRE, and Dermot Callaghan, Teagasc, for their assistance in compiling this article.