The 12th Turkish Mushroom Congress recently took place in Bergama, in Turkey’s Izmir region. This event was filled with  presentations on both scientific and practical aspects of mushroom cultivation. Maksym Yenchenko from UMDIS Mushroom Agency  attended the event and here are some key insights about the Turkish mushroom Industry:

• Turkey produces between 80,000 and 90,000 tons of mushrooms, predominantly Agaricus varieties (about 90%).
• The country has 10 large compost yards that generate approximately 300,000 tons of mushroom compost annually, exclusively Phase II compost.
• The largest compost producers operate their own growing facilities, contributing around one-third of the country’s Agaricus mushroom supply. Smaller growers make up the remainder of the production.
• Yields typically range between 20% and 30% of the compost weight, with limited mushroom and compost imports or exports.
• Sylvan, Amycel, and Spyra are the primary spawn suppliers for Agaricus mushrooms.
• Economic issues, including high interest rates (up to 50%) and last year’s 70% inflation, are hindering investment in the sector.

Turkey’s mushroom farmers are  recognizing the nutritional benefits of mushroom and international knowledge exchange. UMDIS is exploring the possibility of hosting a mushroom-growing workshop on a Turkish farm in 2025. Turkish growers are also invited to participate in UMDIS’s upcoming courses in Poland and Italy.

Special thanks to Fatih Kızılkaya from Amycel for the support throughout the event, and congratulations to Prof. Dr. Erkan Eren for organizing such a successful mushroom conference! Here’s some great photos from the event.