black truffle

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.

November 29, 2016

Truffle Hunting – Gawlat & Oklat Mico visit one of our Welsh plantations

Mico from Gawlet & Oklat Mico, an Arabic food and travel TV show, joined Dr Thomas on one of Welsh plantations to find out about cultivating truffles, hunting for truffles and cooking with truffles! If you’ve wondered what a UK truffle plantation looks like and how dogs are used to hunt truffles then this is the episode for you.  
September 11, 2016

Join us at the APF exhibition 15 – 17 Sept and at Farm Business Innovation 9 & 10 Nov 2016

This autumn Mycorrhizal Systems will be attending two exhibitions where we will be offering advice and information on truffle cultivation. Come and talk to us to around any aspects of planting truffle trees and growing truffles, we’ll be happy to help you. The APF exhibition in Alcester, Warwickshire on 15th, 16th and 17th September 2016 The Farm Business Innovation exhibition show at Birmingham’s NEC on the 9th & 10th of November 2016 Click through for more information around these events.
September 3, 2016

Growing Truffles with BBC Countryfile Summer Diaries

Margherita Taylor of BBC Countryfile Summer Diaries charts the progress of Dr Paul Thomas’ black truffle cultivation success from the Dragon’s Den to our successful first harvest here in the UK 12 years later. The feature covers some of the history and cultivation of truffles, and gives an insight into the stages that the truffle trees go under in our laboratory and specialist nursery, plus follows Freddy the truffle dog on an exploratory hunt!
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.      
November 12, 2015

Macedonia’s first truffle harvest

Black truffles, valued at £1,000/kg have just been cultivated in Macedonia, a country where they do not occur naturally, with the help of British technology. In an impressive example of the export of British technology, four truffles were harvested by Professor Mitko Karadelev from trees inoculated with the black  
October 14, 2015

Beginners truffle cultivation seminar and truffle dinner 24/10/15

On Saturday October 24th 2015, Sheffield’s Inox Resturant will be hosting a seminar (free) for those interested in truffle cultivation followed by a  night celebrating truffles. The evening starts at 7.00pm and will include a journey through the fascinating world of truffles hosted by expert mycologist Dr Paul Thomas.    
  • 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 23, 2018

BBC Radio 4 On Your Farm – How to Farm Truffles

Ruth Sanderson meets a truffle farmer on the Isle of Bute, just off the west coast of southern Scotland. Truffle expert Dr Paul Thomas is planting the first truffle plantation on the island, in joint venture with sheep farmer Ian Dickson. Ruth helps to plant hazel trees which have been inoculated with the truffle fungus, and hears how they hope to reap a profitable harvest within at least six years.
July 23, 2018

Scottish Daily Mail – Scotland’s locally grown truffles in demand

The Scottish Daily Mail accompanied Dr Thomas to a truffle plantation near Edinburgh, one of our growing partner plantations now producing our native summer truffle. The article considers the secrecy around truffle growing, the future of the Scottish truffle industry, truffle dog training and hunting (sneak peak – you don’t need an expensive breed!) and the burgeoning demand for local produce.
January 18, 2018

Free New Grower Seminars – Feb 5th & 8th 2018

We are holding two seminars aimed at those interested in learning about truffle cultivation. These are free to attend and focus on what truffles are, how to cultivate them, the wider truffle market and details of our partnership offer – they are ideally suited for those interested in learning about whether truffle cultivation is for them and for people who have already been in talks with us to meet us face to face. The seminars will be informal with questions from attendees encouraged. Venues are start times are yet to be confirmed but we will be in central Glasgow on February 5th, starting around 1.30 pm and in central Birmingham on February 8th, starting around 2 pm. Please contact us at shop@plantationsystems.com if you’d like to attend one of these seminars and we’ll send out full details.
January 3, 2018

Edinburgh Evening News – Burgundy truffles cultivated in Scotland for first time

One of the world’s most expensive ingredients has been cultivated near Edinburgh after a sever-year wait. Researchers from Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd teamed up with local farmers to cultivate the summer or burgundy truffle. This is the first time the ingredient has been successfully cultivated in Scotland. Researchers believe the potential to cultivate truffles is increasing as a result of climate change. Click through for the full article from Edinburgh Evening News reporter David Bol.