Wool Gras and Sphagnum moss are the two main indicator plants that proofs that the restoration of the ‘Teufelsmoor” (Devils Bog) succeeded on large areas already.
The Humuswerke Worpswede (HWW) belong since 2005 to the Dutch casing soil producer Topterra. This summer the new production hall was set into operation. The internally “Factory 2” designated location is just a few meters from the parent company in Worpswede (close to Bremen in Germany). The new 1500 square meter hall with the upstream 16,000 m² storage space is used for the production of loose loaded casing soil for the German and surrounding markets. Besides a lot of storage space for various peat types and a modern screening and mixing line the new loading station for trucks is to be found inside the hall. With the help of a movable conveyor belt, and perfectly protected against all-weather circumstances, the trucks can now be loaded inside a separate loading station. The original production hall (Factory 1) is now only used to produce and load mushroom casing in 50-liter bags and big bags. Topterra, with production sites in the Netherlands Wanssum and in Worpswede, annually produces more than 300.000m³ casing soil, which is sold in 40 countries worldwide.
Procurement of the raw material plays an increasingly important role as Managing Director Lam Janssen explained at the opening in Worpswede. Around one third of the required peat comes now from building projects such as the popular wind turbines. They must be founded stable – and that is only possible on solid ground and not on the elastic and soft peat. “We are in constant contact with the communities and major developers. On request we organize the entire logistics chain of the removal of peat per dumper” says Janssen. Right from the procurement of peat the quality of the material with soil samples will be analyzed. These inspections, which take place partly in its own laboratories, accompany the entire production process in order to provide customers with a secure casing soil.
Peat comes from an area around Worpswede until about 100 km away. Since 2013 Topterra also maintains close cooperation with Turba, Papenburg, about the restoration of the “Teufelsmoor” . This is just a few kilometers away from Worpswede and is currently waterlogged again. This environmental project, is all about excavating peat on the edges of the existing peat field to get a better, more natural, re-natured area. You find here partly peat layers of about 2 mt. which are interesting for Topterra as a Raw material. With careful management of the peat resources and an occasional clever idea, the company will continue to have plenty of high-quality raw material for the production of mushroom casing – you can be assured of with Topterra.
Source/Text and images: BDC-DER CHAMPIGNON Nr. 4-2015
