Overview of Industry
Mushroom production is a significant component of the horticultural industry. During
2003, the estimated
output value of global mushroom production exceeded $7 billion, at world market price (Anon., 2004).
Total
European production comprises 3.5 – 4 million tonnes of compost per annum with a value of 450 million
Euros. Total annual production of mushrooms in the EU is ca 900,000 tonnes with a farm gate value of
ca 3000 million Euros per annum.
Agaricus bisporus (Lange)
is the most
commonly cultivated edible fungus accounting for approximately 32% of world production (Chang, 1999).
A
diversity of mushroom cultivation systems has been developed. This diversity is primarily influenced
by geographic and socio-economic factors in the different regions in which mushrooms are produced (Gaze,
1985).
Despite differences in the housing and containers used for cultivation,
the principal
methods associated
with crop production, management, and protection in growing systems are fundamentally similar and comprise
a number of discrete phases.
In the United Kingdom it was estimated that insect
pest control, particularly
targeted
at two Dipteran
families, Sciaridae and Phoridae, accounted for 2% of the total farmgate value of the crop (White, 1995).
Despite this expenditure, the same author estimated that a further 4% of the yield was lost to insect
pests.
