How Danish Brothers Learned To Cultivate Morels

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #4, Page #22

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At $50 to $100 or more per pound, commercial year-round morel production is the Holy Grail of the mushroom industry. However, despite more than 100 years of research, until now no controlled method of indoor production of morels has ever been developed.
Twin brothers Jacob and Karsten Kirk in Denmark have been working on the problem since 1986. In cooperation with the University of Copenhagen, they have developed a method that appears to work.
So far, they have successfully cultivated 92 out of 102 identified genetic variants of the black morel. Two are the most productive, yielding slightly more than 20 lbs. of morels per sq. meter per year with an average size just under an ounce.
What the Kirks have done so far is outlined in detail on their website. It describes their 45-year interest in mushrooms and morels in particular.
By 2004 they had successfully grown black morels in an outdoor location. In the autumn of 2005, they produced black morels in cultivation boxes, yielding 349 grams per sq. meter.
Over time, they developed a morel soil composed of five different natural products in a precise ratio with a carefully adjusted mineral content. They also discovered that the entire unit had to be in ecological balance. This includes growing grass in the beds as part of the cultivation process, as well as climate control.
Other developments include designing the cultivation units. They now have stackable Rako boxes in pallet form for easy moving.
Helena Kirk of the Danish Morel Project responded to FARM SHOW’s request for current plans to commercialize and how it would be done, as well as the cost of a system. “Nothing is determined yet,” she says.
One thing The Danish Morel Project has not done is patent its process. In 2006 they began the application process but were advised it could easily be circumvented. Instead, they have kept the key points of their process secret and provide only limited information.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Danish Morel Project (info@thedanishmorelproject.com; www.thedanishmorelproject.com).

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How Danish Brothers Learned To Cultivate Morels CROPS Miscellaneous At $50 to $100 or more per pound commercial year-round morel production is the Holy Grail of the mushroom industry However despite more than 100 years of research until now no controlled method of indoor production of morels has ever been developed Twin brothers Jacob and Karsten Kirk in Denmark have been working on the problem since 1986 In cooperation with the University of Copenhagen they have developed a method that appears to work So far they have successfully cultivated 92 out of 102 identified genetic variants of the black morel Two are the most productive yielding slightly more than 20 lbs of morels per sq meter per year with an average size just under an ounce What the Kirks have done so far is outlined in detail on their website It describes their 45-year interest in mushrooms and morels in particular By 2004 they had successfully grown black morels in an outdoor location In the autumn of 2005 they produced black morels in cultivation boxes yielding 349 grams per sq meter Over time they developed a morel soil composed of five different natural products in a precise ratio with a carefully adjusted mineral content They also discovered that the entire unit had to be in ecological balance This includes growing grass in the beds as part of the cultivation process as well as climate control Other developments include designing the cultivation units They now have stackable Rako boxes in pallet form for easy moving Helena Kirk of the Danish Morel Project responded to FARM SHOW’s request for current plans to commercialize and how it would be done as well as the cost of a system “Nothing is determined yet ” she says One thing The Danish Morel Project has not done is patent its process In 2006 they began the application process but were advised it could easily be circumvented Instead they have kept the key points of their process secret and provide only limited information Contact: FARM SHOW Followup The Danish Morel Project info@thedanishmorelproject com; www thedanishmorelproject com

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