Monaghan Mushrooms is now a verified member of the Bord Bia Origin Green sustainability programme, the Monaghan-based company has announced.

Chief Executive of the company, Ronnie Wilson, says that the award will be a great benefit to its international business.

The company has over 3,500 staff across operations in Canada and a number of European countries including the UK and Ireland. Monaghan Mushrooms is headquarted in Tyholland, Co. Monaghan.

The family mushroom business has built sustainability measures into its business planning for over a decade and has exceeded the targets required to receive the Origin Green verification, it says.

“Monaghan Mushrooms is dedicated to the improvement and identification of exciting new processes, services, concepts and products. From farm to fork, the renowned research programmes cover every aspect of the food supply chain and beyond.

“Our operations are extremely resource efficient incorporating a continuous internal circle of reduce, reuse and recycle.

“Our state-of-the-art research and development department is committed to bringing research-led, commercially driven innovation to our customers,” Wilson said.

Current projects underway by Monaghan Mushrooms research and development include the improvement of compost productivity, reduction of pesticide usage, reuse of waste and reduction of the amount of peat used, it says.

These projects are being co-funded with Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Research Council and Innovate UK.

Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia said that Origin Green provides Irish companies with the opportunity to differentiate itself in a highly competitive global marketplace, while addressing issues of increasing global importance.