Every single mushroom grown in Ireland today is harvested by hand. Those hands are becoming increasingly difficult to source, resulting in mushroom producers seriously considering automation. The first tentative steps are already underway, and the Irish sector looks poised to undergo a radical transformation.
Automated or semi-automated systems will either replace or compliment human workforce in harvesting mushrooms in the next five years, according to Donal Gernon, Teagasc Mushroom Adviser.
Donal was one of the organisers behind a seminar at Teagasc Ashtown where growers could learn about systems from leading mushroom automation companies.
Irish, Belgian and Dutch companies outlined how their systems could meet the growers' needs.
"Some of the semi-automated systems presented at the seminar are already on farms in Europe and in Canada, so we're already familiar with a lot of them," acknowledged Donal. "What we're not familiar with is the robotics - that is ground-breaking technology. But I do envisage there will be trials of robotics in Ireland probably within the next 12-18 months, which is really positive and exciting."
Mushroom harvesters mightn't share this "positive and exciting" view if they are to face redundancy. The Celt asked Donal about the human cost of any switch towards automation.