From grower to frontrunner, the Dutch mushroom continues to grow

What once started in the 1950s with a smart combination of horticultural knowledge and a rock-solid infrastructure, has grown into a sector that now sets the tone in Europe: the Dutch mushroom industry. But the success story does not stop there. On the contrary, the sector is transforming at a rapid pace.

The smell of freshly picked mushrooms no longer betrays the whole story. Behind the scenes, the world of mushrooms has grown into a domain of innovation, sustainability and smart technology. It is no longer just about production; it is about value. About applications that go beyond the plate, and play a role in health, food innovation and circular processes.

Two men who experience this development up close are Rob Banken of Banken Champignons Groep and Jan Klerken Jr. of Scelta Mushrooms. As part of the European campaign ‘European mushrooms, hidden gems’, they talk about a sector in motion. A sector that knows its roots, but is not afraid to break new ground. “We build on decades of experience, but we are constantly looking ahead,” says Klerken Jr. “Sustainability and technological innovation go hand in hand with us.”

The Netherlands is considered an undisputed leader in Europe, and that is no coincidence. The shift from mass production to advanced applications is the result of years of investment, ​​in people, machines and methods. Banken adds: “The strength of the Dutch sector lies in cooperation and in the willingness to innovate. That makes us flexible and future-proof.”

The mushroom as a hidden gem? In the Netherlands, it is increasingly coming into the spotlight, as a flavouring and as a symbol of progress.

Find a more extensive news item by EVmi here (in Dutch).