Mushroom growers warn there is no viable peat alternative available for growing in IrelandA fresh “twist” in the peat harvesting saga poses a “devastating” threat to the country’s “world-class” mushroom industry, it has been stated. “We are getting by on plots under 30ha; but the EPA is putting pressure on to consolidate pieces of peat bogs being used in order to impose further restrictions. “They say the consolidated activities are what needs to be stopped – and that is a twist in this that we didn’t expect. It’s an unsung industry and Irish peat is without question one of the key pillars of it. “I don’t expect, or believe, that imported material will produce as good of quality or as high a volume of mushrooms as using Irish peat,” he said adding that consumers will face "price hikes” as a result.

Source: Irish Independent March 17, 2021 06:22 UTC