NEWS

Prof. Paul Thomas (our Managing Director) has appeared on several TV programmes, radio shows and in many written articles. Specific areas of expertise include the biology, cultivation, hunting and cooking methods of the wide range of truffle species. If you would like an interview or require information for an article then please use our contact form and we would be very happy to help.

Below, our most recent news articles are displayed and our back-catalogue is open for browsing.

June 20, 2015

Annual Truffle Results

This month we have been very busy collecting and processing annual data from our truffle plantations. Data from sites analysed so far show excellent progress and strong improvement on last year’s results. Looking through the data, there have been a few surprises, such as the prolonged drought conditions in the East of the UK resulting in lower than average tree growth rates but unexpectedly above average truffle-mycorrhiza growth. Growth rates have been good across areas with normal rainfall levels, with our silver-birch trial trees reaching a whopping 2.5m within 3 years!
June 20, 2015

Spain Heats Up

Far away from the crowded beaches of Spain, our local partner, now in their fourth year, Parkview Management, has just completed their second planting of truffle trees. Large areas of Spain have ideal conditions for the valuable Perigord truffle and we are pleased to see so many trees being planted in this prime area. If you are interested in establishing a plantation in Spain please get in touch oninvest@plantationsystems.com
June 20, 2015

First Plantations of the year are underway

During March we have seen our first plantation of the year getting underway in France, with has trees inoculated with the Black Winter Truffle. This species thrives in the milder Mediterranean climates and is very valuable; prices reached a whopping €1250 per kilo this month. We also have new plantations in the UK with trees inoculated with the British summer truffle. The Summer Truffle has a broad tolerance of climate and can grow as far north as Sweden, which makes it an ideal species to cultivate.
June 20, 2015

New growers’ seminar

After the huge success of our first new growers’ seminar, we have decided to make it a recurring event with the next meeting booked for the 22nd of March. It will be held at Bradley Park Golf club, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.Tickets are available now at £10/ea. The event will be started with a very informative presentation by Dr. Paul Thomas, and then we will have plenty of Q and A time.
June 20, 2015

The world’s biggest black truffle?

What could be the world’s biggest black truffle was sold last month in the south of France. The 1.3kg black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) went on sale in the farm market of the French south-western town of Sarlat. The massive subterranean fungus is the biggest ever found and sold in Périgord, which is historically the most famous truffle producing region of France. Winter truffles are currently being sold for about 1,000 euro (£828) per kg on southern France farmer’s markets, and we estimate that this one sold for around 1,500 euro.
June 20, 2015

The Napa Truffle festival

On 13th of January 2012, the Second Annual Napa Truffle Festival opened to a sold out weekend event. The event was organized by our partners the American Truffle Company. Programs and activities throughout the weekend included culinary/cooking demos, lunches and tours at Raymond Vineyards and Robert Mondavi Winery, a lively Festival Marketplace showcasing local artisanal vendors, and a grand multi-course Truffles & Wine Dinner at La Toque—each course was prepared by a Michelin Star Chef .
June 20, 2015

Stella McCartney’s new truffley perfume

Stella McCartney has announced the launch of her latest fragrance, which unusually features truffle as a top note. McCartney’s truffle choice seems surprising to everyone who has smelt truffles before. Master perfumer Jacques Cavallier of Firmenich, who worked with McCartney on her floral signature scent, Stella, explained his surprise at the decision. “The truffle was unusual, but I said OK to Stella” he is quoted as saying.
June 20, 2015

Planting and Tree Deliveries

The prime tree planting time November – March is upon us. Traditionally, November to March are good months to plant, as the trees are dormant and planting in the winter allows the truffley-roots plenty of time to settle in before mycorrhiza and root-growth starts again in spring.
June 19, 2015

The White Truffle Season 2011-2012

The white truffle, the most expensive fungi in the world, is now in season. This rare truffle that is only available for these few months of the year are almost exclusively from one part of Italy. They fetch staggering prices of thousands of pounds per kilo, and are the ultimate culinary luxury. One of the reasons that these truffles are so expensive is that wild harvests continue to decline.
  • Samantha Ellis

    From guidance in orchard establishment, tree supply and management to our own truffle distribution network, we've got all angles covered

    Samantha Ellis
    Business Development
  • Dr Paul Thomas

    Thorough and scientific methodologies, attention to detail and having a committed partner at every step of the way, is the only reliable approach to truffle cultivation

    Dr Paul Thomas
    General Director
  • Daniel Paskin

    With our own genetics lab and research sites in 23 countries, we are truly world-leading in the field

    Daniel Paskin
    Nursery Manager
July 25, 2016

Truffle Talk: ITV News and BBC Radio Wales

Following on from our recent ground breaking truffle harvest in Monmouthshire, Wales, we have been busy being interviewed by the press and media and this week we have been featured on BBC Radio Wales and ITV News discussing truffles and our truffle tree plantations.
June 29, 2016

First ever truffle farmed and harvested in Wales

After 8 years of waiting, the first farmed Welsh truffle has just been harvested in southern Wales by an extremely excited cultivator: “I still can’t believe it, I’m over the moon!”. Wishing to remain anonymous, the Welsh orchard owner added: “It’s the most potent perfume I have ever smelt! Better than the ones I’ve bought-in. Wonderful”. The site is on pH-adjusted soil and was planted with English oak, holm oak and hazel, all inoculated with summer truffle. The owner completed some basic truffle-dog training and had moved to using fresh truffle as a scent source on the same day that the cultivated truffle was found. The 38g find known as the Summer or Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum syn. uncinatum) is the first to be cultivated in Wales and adds to MSL’s other successes in truffle cultivation throughout the UK and the world.
April 8, 2016

Climate Change and the Impact on Truffle Supply

Climate change is happening. This we know. But how will climate change impact on truffle production and supply? In this article Dr Thomas discusses how the predicated changes in climate would impact Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) production.
February 12, 2016

Sniffing out British Truffles

In some of our more recent media coverage join Dr Thomas and two of our partners in Kent as they hunt out truffles with the help of their dog Tally. Listen here.