The mushroom sector will soon benefit from funding made through the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR). An amount of €210,000 has been confirmed, which is planned to go towards the promotion of Irish produce in the UK.
Brexit has impacted the sector, resulting in reduced volumes and additional costs. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has commented that this has reduced the competitiveness and attractiveness of Irish mushrooms in the UK marketplace.
The BAR funding will be used for a sectoral promotional campaign that seeks to “ensure that UK consumers are dynamically reminded of the nutritional and taste benefits of cooking with mushrooms”. This will be promoted by Bord Bia.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue says that: “The mushroom sector is a really important one for our overall agri-food sector and it is crucial that we support it in any way we can.”
Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, added that, “These are challenging times for the wider horticulture industry and the mushroom sector in particular has been severely impacted by Brexit, given its reliance on the UK export market.This promotional campaign will help to ensure that consumer appetite and demand remain strong in the UK for Irish mushrooms, which are a versatile source of sustainable nutrition.”
The Irish mushroom industry relies on the UK export market for 85% of its sales. Annually, 60,000t of mushrooms are exported to the UK, worth approximately €151 million (2021 figures). Mushroom consumption tends to dip through the summer months as mushrooms are seen as a winter staple in Europe.