The owner of the oldest plantations of “black diamonds” in Bordeaux (France) Edouard Aynaud visited Feldman Ecopark. It is his first visit to Ukraine made on the invitation of the chiefs of the Regional Landscape Park in order to discuss the prospects of cooperation. According to the words of the reputable French expert, he is very interested in the opportunity to share his experience in ‘aristocratic mushrooms’ planting with his Ukrainian friends.
“Truffle is an exclusively valuable gastronomic product. The world demand on it increases every year, while they may be found in the nature more and more seldom. In France, the truffle farms appeared as far back as the middle of 19th century: the special oak forests were planted to grow these mushrooms. This technology is already used in the USA and Australia. I’m very glad that there are people in your country who want to work in this field. Less than a quarter of market demand is covered, therefore there are no reasons for me to be afraid of the competition,” Edouard Aynaud told. “Truffle planting is unusually interesting and important from the point of view of environmental education. There are a lot of excursions on my farm; a lot of visitors from across the world arrive. We tell and show them how truffles grow, as it is a difficult natural process. It is especially exciting for children to see how dogs find them and how these magical tubers are dug out from under the ground. I think that Feldman Ecopark will be able not only to open the farm, but also to establish the truffle planting school.”
There are the necessary conditions for this in the Regional Landscape Park, Edouard states authoritatively.
“The soil tests showed the suitable composition, the places in the forest have appropriate lighting and humidity level for seedlings. I think that it will be possible to carry out the experimental transplanting of young oaks and walnuts implanted with mycelium next spring. However, it will be necessary to wait 5-6 years before the first harvest. Truffle planting is a long-term project, which requires patience, persistence and diligence. However, it is well worth the effort, as it will be the first truffle farm in Ukraine,” the expert says.
