The discovery of black truffles could give Ireland a foothold in the market and a welcome boost for farmers and landowners.
Due to high demand, the truffle industry is growing rapidly and in the next 20 years could be worth €4.5 billion annually.
Project organiser Prof. Paul W. Thomas from the University of Sterling in Scotland, confirmed the black truffle had been successfully been grown in Ireland for the first time.
“Our aim was to produce truffles in Ireland, eventually leading to an export crop and a valuable diversification for landowners. The success has been a dream come true,” said Prof. Thomas.
Work started 10 years ago to cultivate the summer or ‘Burgundy’ truffles at a secret site around 100km from Dublin.
Truffles usually grow under the ground with the root system of trees that have a high content of limestone.
The root systems of native oak trees in Ireland were treated to encourage truffle production.
Using a specially trained dog, around 200g of truffles were found in November with a value of €180.
Working with a company that specialises in truffle cultivation, Mycorrjizal Systems, Prof. Thomas says that production will rapidly increase after the initial cultivation and the site will continue to be productive for decades.
LSL News.