Rainwater and wind turbines drive sustainability at Monaghan Mushrooms

May 09:

Philip Wilson, Director of Monaghan Mushrooms, Minister Heather Humpherys and Aidan Cotter, CEO of Bord Bia.

Monaghan Mushrooms is now a verified member of the Bord Bia Origin Green sustainability programme, the Monaghan-based company has announced.

Chief Executive of the company, Ronnie Wilson, says that the award will be a great benefit to its international business.

The company has over 3,500 staff across operations in Canada and a number of European countries including the UK and Ireland. Monaghan Mushrooms is headquarted in Tyholland, Co. Monaghan.

The family mushroom 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, it says.

Monaghan Mushrooms investment in sustainability has resulted in the following:

• 100% green electricity supplied to all its sites across Monaghan, Mayo and Kildare,sourced from 10 turbines in Kealkill, Co. Cork.
• 100% of roof rainwater harvested for 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 10 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.

“Our operations are extremely resource efficient incorporating a continuous internal circle of reduce, reuse and recycle.

“Our state-of-the-art research and development department is committed to bringing research-led, commercially driven innovation to our customers,” Wilson said.

Current projects underway by Monaghan Mushrooms research and development include the improvement of compost productivity, reduction of pesticide usage, reuse of waste and reduction of the amount of peat used, it says.

These projects are being co-funded with Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Research Council and Innovate UK.

Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia said that Origin Green provides Irish companies with the opportunity to differentiate itself in a highly competitive global marketplace, while addressing issues of increasing global importance.

Source: http://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/rainwater-and-wind-turbines-drive-sustainability-at-monaghan-mushrooms/?