FDBusiness.com

International mushroom supplier Monaghan Mushrooms has joined an elite group of companies to be fully verified members of the Bord Bia Origin Green sustainability programme. The award will be a great benefit to its international business, according to the company founder and chief executive Ronnie Wilson.

Monaghan Mushrooms has over 3,500 staff across operations in Canada and a number of European countries including the United Kingdom and Ireland. Headquartered in Tyholland in County Monaghan it is an acknowledged authority on mushrooms supplying some of the world’s largest international retail groups.

The Monaghan based family run business has built sustainability measures into its business planning for over a decade and has exceeded the targets required to receive the Origin Green verification making their level of achievements unique in the mushroom industry and in the Irish food industry in general.

Its investment in sustainability has resulted in:

* 100% green electricity supplied to all its sites across Monaghan, Mayo and Kildare,sourced from 10 turbines in Kealkill, County Cork.

* 100% of roof rainwater harvestedfor re-use in the washing cooling process at the plant in Tyholland.

* 100% of surface and building rainfall harvested for use within the mushroom substrate process on the adjacent compost facility in Carbury.

* A €720,000 investment in new energy efficient lorries with a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and a computerised system that has led to more efficient driving patterns.

* Significant investment in state of the art odour abatement technology over the past ten years  to minimise, manage and control this by-product of the business.

* Transfer of the by-product from the mushroom growing process to other agri-businesses, for example the horticultural industry.

“Monaghan Mushrooms is dedicated to the improvement and identification of exciting new processes, services, concepts and products. From farm to fork, the renowned research programmes cover every aspect of the food supply chain and beyond,” says Ronnie Wilson. “Our operations are extremely resource efficient incorporating a continuous internal circle of reduce, reuse and recycle. Our state-of-the-art Research & Development department is committed to bringing research-led, commercially driven innovation to our customers.”

Current projects underway by Monaghan Mushrooms R&D include: Improvement of Compost Productivity, Reduction of Pesticide Usage, Reuse of waste and Reduction of the amount of peat used. These projects are being co-funded with Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Research Council and Innovate UK.

Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia, comments: “Monaghan Mushrooms have been a major driving force behind the growth and development of the sector over a long period. At a time when the world needs to produce more food with limited resources, Origin Green provides Irish companies with the opportunity to differentiate itself in a highly competitive global marketplace, while addressing issues of increasing global importance.”