Sievers: Southern Lower Saxony to become truffle country
Truffle grower Fabian Sievers from southern Lower Saxony sees great potential for the precious mushroom in Germany. "2023 is by far the best truffle year," enthused the 51-year-old, who set up a truffle plantation in Alfeld in the district of Hildesheim eleven years ago. He planted around 1000 trees on a slope with his own hands. 750 of them were previously inoculated with spores from local Burgundy truffles. The bulbous, aromatic mushroom, which grows on tree roots, has been cultivated in Spain and Italy for decades.
Sievers relies on the help of Woopee and Djuka to harvest the truffles. The two Lagotto Romagnolo dogs have an excellent sense of smell and, according to Sievers, could easily be trained to sniff out truffles. The 51-year-old dreams of more truffle plantations being established in the Leinebergland region in southern Lower Saxony. "Then Alfeld truffles could become a brand like Nienburg asparagus."
The Association for Truffle Cultivation and Use in Germany estimates that there are around 700 growers across Germany cultivating the precious mushroom on around 600 hectares. According to the Chamber of Agriculture, just under ten hectares were recently registered for truffle cultivation in Lower Saxony. It is therefore likely to remain an amateur or niche product for the time being, said a chamber spokesperson.
- With the increasing popularity of truffles, there's a growing opportunity for local farmers in agriculture to diversify their produce and offer high-quality food and drink options to consumers, such as truffle-infused dishes.
- Nature plays a crucial role in truffle cultivation, as the mushrooms grow symbiotically with specific tree roots, making the preservation of natural forests and biodiversity essential for both truffle growth and the well-being of various animals, like the trained Lagotto Romagnolo dogs that assist in truffle hunting.
- As more people become aware of the benefits of truffles and seek out this luxury food item, the demand for domestic truffles has the potential to rise, leading to increased income for farmers and potentially making "Alfeld truffles" a recognized and sought-after brand, much like "Nienburg asparagus."
Source: www.dpa.com
