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 12, 2019

World leaders in truffle farming technology, based in…Lancashire, England!

Truffles have been harvested for the first time on another of Mycorrhizal Systems' truffle growing partner sites in the UK.
June 5, 2019

Early truffle harvest on the newest UK truffle farm

Truffles have been harvested for the first time on another of Mycorrhizal Systems' truffle growing partner sites in the UK.
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

New Grower Seminars – Scotland – November 28th 2018

Are you based in Scotland and interested in learning more about truffle cultivation on your land? Dr Thomas will be delivering a seminar in Angus aimed at farmers and landowners who are considering diversification. The seminar will be held during the evening of Wednesday 28th November in Alyth, Angus and for more information please send an enquiry through our contact page.
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.
October 16, 2018

Scottish Rural Innovators Awards – Shortlist

We’ve been shortlisted for an award: for bringing successful truffle cultivation to Scotland and the potential this has for boosting the region’s economy. The winner is decided by public vote. You can read more and vote (hopefully!) on the SRA’s website , we very much appreciate your support. Thank you!
September 13, 2018

Join us at the APF exhibition 20 – 22 September 2018

Next week Mycorrhizal Systems will be attending the APF Forestry Show 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 20th, 21st and 22nd September 2018 Click through for further information around the event.
August 8, 2018

Huge Early Harvest for South African Orchard

Whilst a heatwave hits large parts of the northern hemisphere, it’s winter truffle season in the south. Last weekend, during the first ‘hunt’ of one of our Southern African truffle orchards a total of 40 black winter (Périgord) truffles were found including one 380g monster (click through for pictures)! We have some great projects in South Africa and a number of plantations are now in production with a total of three different truffle species. Production at 5 years is young for a plantation but these results again highlight the importance of checking your trees for signs of truffles from quite early on.
  • 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
December 6, 2017

The Telegraph: The Welsh farm growing one of the world’s rarest delicacies – the Perigord truffle

In November Dr Thomas met with The Telegraph’s Boudicca Fox-Leonard to discuss how a small village in South Wales became home to the first black winter Perigord truffles to be found north of France.
December 6, 2017

BBC Radio 4 You & Yours – Shari Vahl hunts the first UK Perigord truffles with us

In November Dr Thomas met with Shari Vahl from BBC Radio 4’s You & Yours programme to discuss Mycorrhizal Systems’ cultivation of the Black winter Perigord truffle on our partner site in South Wales – this is the first time the valuable truffle has been found north of France and is related to changing climatic conditions. Shari visits the plantation in Wales that is now producing both summer and winter truffle varieties.
December 6, 2017

Epigenetics: advanced truffle research 

In October we welcomed our new PhD candidate, Philip Schuler, to the Mycorrhizal Systems team.  Supervised by ourselves and Prof. Ganesan at the University of East Anglia, Philip is working on a new field in truffle research: the effect of epigenetic and morphogenetic modulators on truffle cultivation under model laboratory conditions. In essence, we have compounds which change how genes are expressed with the aim of looking for important modulators for truffle growth and fruiting. The aim is to eventually develop practical applications that can be applied to the orchards of our grower partners. This is a really exciting project and encompasses a range of experimental systems. Philip has been on several orchards already, collecting samples and has already got quite deep into lab work. Click through for some stunning images Philip has taken of the truffle fungus growing in association with the plant partner (Tuber aestivum).
November 5, 2017

First ever Périgord black truffle cultivated in the UK due to climate change

We’re excited to announce that the first cultivated black Périgord (winter) truffle in the UK has been produced using Mycorrhizal Systems technology – this is the first time the truffle has been found north of central France and was grown on our partner site in Monmouthshire, South Wales. The truffle find and associated research has been reported in the journal ‘Climate Research’. Analysis by researchers from the University of Cambridge and Dr Paul Thomas from Mycorrhizal Systems and the University of Stirling suggests that climate change was a factor and that truffle cultivation may be possible in many parts of the UK. The scientific breakthrough is an important development for the burgeoning UK truffle industry as climate change is threatening native black Périgord truffle habitats in southern Europe.