The foundation for cultivating healthy mushrooms is well-pasteurised compost and pure casing soil. By providing good spore filters, well sealed growing rooms and correct monitoring, growers should be able to limit the use of chemical control agents to a minimum. This isn't only an efficient cost cutting exercise, but benefits the sector's image as a whole.
Scrupulous hygiene in and around the farm is of utmost importance. Growers shouldn't wait until they have to use crop protection agents to fight pests and diseases. Correct hygiene can be enough to ensure sufficient prevention and not force cure using various pesticides.