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.

February 15, 2022

Can truffle trees survive flooding and heavy rain?

...in truffle literature, it is often claimed that truffle mycorrhiza can tolerate submersion for '14 days and no more' but with flood events increasing in frequency, we thought we'd put this to the test. As part of the experiment, saplings with truffle mycorrhiza were flooded from 7 to 65 days and full results have now been published.
January 13, 2022

First successful cultivation of truffles in Ireland.

The summer or burgundy, black truffle, one of the world’s most expensive ingredients, has been successfully cultivated in Ireland, making history after 10 years of waiting.
October 1, 2021

Farm Business Innovation Show – 10th & 11th November 2021 – Birmingham NEC

We’ll be returning to Birmingham’s NEC for the Farm Business Innovation show - 10th & 11th November 2021- Birmingham NEC
February 19, 2021

MSL Blog: Can we grow white truffles, Tuber magnatum? – Feb 2021

How can I grow white truffles or Tuber magnatum? Can I farm white truffles? Can I grow white truffles in the UK? These are some of the most common questions we’ve been asked over the years and the response has always been that the technology just isn't there yet. Many years ago, we developed a system that resulted in well colonised trees with T. magnatum, but we had never offered these for sale as there are still so many unknowns about its cultivation. Consequently, there was widespread excitement this week when it was reported by a French team that white truffles had been produced from inoculated trees and in just 4.5 years! We thought it would be useful to provide a brief synopsis of this report and the current state of the technology to help would-be cultivators.
February 16, 2021

MSL Blog: truffles and sex: an update on what we know and implications for truffle production – Feb 2021

Within truffe cultivation, some basic parameters are understood. For example, it is widely accepted that to cultivate black winter ‘Périgord’ truffles (Tuber melanosporum) we need a suitable climate, alkaline soils and host trees whose roots have formed mycorrhizal structures with T. melanosporum. Across the globe, these basic principles form the basis of truffle cultivation and an approach that is broadly successful. However, the very basic question of how a truffle forms and what triggers this development is still poorly understood. One of the most basic questions can be summarised in one word that has occupied humans for millennia: sex! In this blog post Prof. Paul Thomas discusses how DNA sequencing technology has led to the discovery that for the winter truffle there are two mating types (or ‘sexes’) and these must come together to form fruiting bodies (truffles).
December 5, 2020

PhD opportunity in mycorrhiza & agroforestry: combining food and timber production

(Closing date 6th Jan 2021). How to get the best of both worlds: harnessing microbiology and biotechnology to crop speciality fungi from forest plantations. Prof. Paul Thomas and colleague Prof. Alastair Jump of the University of Stirling are looking for a PhD student to undertake research that combines food production with timber crops. This interdisciplinary PhD project combines biotechnology with microbiology, agroforestry and environmental niche and economic impact modelling to develop the methods required for the successful implementation of this agroforestry system in the UK and evaluate its potential impact.
December 5, 2020

MSL Blog: climate change and the impact on truffles – December 2020

2020 has been a big news year and life has changed in ways that most of us never expected. At the start of the year record wildfires seemed like they could be the big news story of the year as huge blazes ravaged Australia. However, as we all know, it wasn’t just Australia and extreme climate events occurred across the globe. In this blog post Prof. Paul Thomas discusses the impact of climate change and the research he's working on in collaboration with colleagues from the Universities of Cambridge and Stirling around what these changes mean for truffle production.
August 8, 2019

National Geographic – New research confirms that truffle harvests are affected by rainfall patterns

The National Geographic have produced an excellent article focusing on a recent study into rainfall levels and how these effect truffle harvests; it’s particularly important as climate change is dramatically affecting the truffle industry. We’re often asked how important rainfall levels are for truffle cultivation and whether irrigation is required, both for the truffle trees and for the truffles themselves. We’ve had a good understanding of this for many years and know that both trees and truffles like a moderate amount of rainfall with a disbursement across the year. The climate in the UK, Ireland and across most of mid and eastern Europe is ideal for good tree and truffle growth and additional irrigation isn’t typically required on truffle plantations. However, new research published by Prof. Ulf Büntgen of Cambridge University is revealing that the timing of when rainfall occurs in a particular year is also a key factor in […]
June 27, 2019

CLA Summit 2019: Climate Change – Risk or Opportunity?

As part of our wider commitment to developing the UK’s agricultural and forestry sectors, Dr Thomas will be presenting at the CLA’s 2019 Summit, held on July 2nd 2019 at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London. The topic for discussion this year is ‘Climate Change – Risk or Opportunity’ and will be presented by business leaders, academics and industry experts. The aim of the summit is to arm landowners with the facts around climate change and to highlight how to adapt and build in resilience to existing business whilst exploring future opportunities. As part of the expert line up, Dr Thomas will be presenting an overview of his recent research into climate change, co-authored with Prof Büntgen of Cambridge University, and how this is expected to affect forestry both in the UK and globally.
  • 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
May 14, 2019

Climate change could boost UK truffle production

Dr Paul Thomas visits one of our Scottish truffle plantations to discuss the impact of climate change and how this could dramatically reduce truffle production in southern Europe, though actually benefit UK truffle farming. The Scottish site is now in its second year of truffle production.
November 23, 2018

Climate change predicted to seriously impact Mediterranean truffle production

A research collaboration between Dr Paul Thomas (Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd and University of Stirling) and Professor Ulf Büntgen (University of Cambridge) has been published this week in the influential academic journal, Science of The Total Environment. The research, led by Dr Thomas, is the first study to consider the future threat of climate change on European truffle production. The research summarises that the warmer and drier climate predicted in the traditional Mediterranean truffle producing regions of France, Spain and Italy will be responsible for the decline and could be accelerated by other factors, such as heatwaves, drought, forest fires, pests and diseases. Though the research suggests a more favourable climate for truffle production in the north and east of Europe, the decline in the traditional production regions will have a huge economic, ecological and social impact.
November 5, 2018

Farm Business Innovation Show – 7th & 8th November 2018 – Birmingham NEC

Farm Business Innovation Show – 7th & 8th November 2018 – Birmingham NEC This week we’ll be returning to Birmingham’s NEC for the Farm Business Innovation show. Following on from previous year’s success Dr Paul Thomas will be delivering a seminar on both days of the show. Dr Thomas will be discussing the breakthrough we’ve had in cultivating the first black Perigord truffle in the UK, it’s the first time this has been achieved north of central France. The seminar will also cover truffle basics, truffle cultivation and the ‘business’ of truffles and due to the popularity we would recommend arriving as early as possible if you’d like to be seated.
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.