Tunnel company

In the tunnel companies the IVC® begins a sweating-out process. This process can be divided into two stages: pasteurisation and conditioning.
During the pasteurisation stage germs and pests are killed. The compost is kept at 60° Centigrade for this purpose for ten hours. During the conditioning stage, which takes a few days, the compost is made selective for the mushroom. After that the compost is free from ammonia and suitable for inoculation with mushroom mycelium. The IVC® is temporarily stored in a buffer where it is stored layer by layer by means of a tripper at the tunnel companies of CNC in Milsbeek and Moerdijk. A shovel takes the IVC® via a storage container with a conveyor belt to one of the tunnels. This transport also takes place via the attic and a filling cassette with telescopic belts. In the tunnel the sweating-out stage takes place. After a sweating-out process of 6 days, the compost is pulled out of the tunnel, inoculated with spawn and filled in another, empty tunnel. Spawn consists of sterilised grains of corn which are completely grown through with mushroom mycelium. The tunnel with the inoculated compost is kept at a temperature of approximately 25° Centigrade, which is comfortable for the mycelium. The mycelium grows from the grain of corn into the compost so within two weeks the compost is fully grown through with the mushroom mycelium. The full-grown compost is now ready to be delivered to a grower. Strict rules with respect to hygiene have been drawn up to prevent contamination in the tunnel companies. The staff wear special company clothing, the building is kept at an overpressure and the inoculation takes place in a different space from the delivery of full-grown compost or the filling of IVC®. All machines and the interior of the work hall are carefully cleaned every day.