Testimonials

Peat: From Ancient Fuel to Future Gardens

Christian Nienhusmeier

Sales Manager at Premier Tech

June 20, 2025

Peat used for fuel and peat used in gardens

Peat has played a significant role in European history, having been used for centuries as a source of fuel. Before coal and oil became widely available, peat was essential for heating homes and cooking food. Today, peat moss is widely used in horticulture and home gardening, due to its unique properties as a growing medium.

The history and legacy of peat in Europe are now being reevaluated in light of ecological thinking. Increasingly stringent regulations and shifts in consumer preferences are driving a reduction in peat consumption. Governments and environmental organizations are advocating for the protection and restoration of peatlands, emphasizing their critical role in carbon sequestration and biodiversity preservation. The future of peat use will likely involve a careful balance between preserving these valuable ecosystems and meeting the demands of various industries.

Premier Tech and peat, a long-lasting legacy

Founded in 1923, Premier Tech quickly became a leader in peat moss production, providing high-quality growing media for the horticultural market. The commitment to sustainability and innovation has driven the company to adopt environmentally friendly practices, such as responsible peatland management and the development of alternative growing solutions. Premier Tech's deeply rooted understanding of peat and efforts to balance economic and ecological interests have positioned us as a key partner for many growers and producers.

That knowhow has only grown with the acquisition of SLOOTWEG in 2017. Today Premier Tech enters the market with its dedicated organics product line SLOOTWEG, combining the peat growing legacy with the peat and substrate equipment know-how.

The future of peat use: Peat-free or reduced-peat?

The future of gardening is increasingly leaning towards peat-free or reduced peat usage, because environmental awareness is growing and global demand is expected to outgrow harvesting capacities in the years to come. We can refer to 2 different sources:

The commercially available Peat Market 2024-2028 report states the peat market is expected to grow USD 140.7 million during 2023-2028, accelerating at a CAGR of 2.55% during the forecast period.

The growing media for food and quality of life in the period of 2020-2050 research conducted by the Wageningen University on growing media calculated the global demand is expected to grow from 67 Mm³ to 283 Mm³ by 2050.

We all know peatlands simply do not grow overnight, so how to support this explosive market growth? By exploring alternate materials: alternative growing media, such as coconut coir, wood fiber, and composted bark and many other alternatives are popping up and gaining popularity.

" Alternative growing media, such as coconut coir, wood fiber, and composted bark, are gaining popularity. "

For substrate producers, the transition to peat-free or reduced-peat (some peat producers also refer to this as improved peat) triggers a totally new paradigm: understanding the unique properties of these alternatives while maintaining high-quality growing conditions for its customer base.

Alternate materials trigger new demand

The different physical and chemical properties of alternative raw materials require a precise and reliable mixing process as well as a different handling inside the horticultural application. Peat producers need powerful and performing equipment so that the alternate materials have a workable homogeneous fibrous structure, combined with more advanced mixing capabilities.

With peat in the DNA and being a partner close to its customers, Premier Tech prides itself on being the solutions provider that listens to and co-develops solutions with its loyal customer base. This has resulted in a product range that covers the harvesting of peat, screening & mixing, up to end of line with bagging/baling, palletizing and load securing. Not to forget the IT component with detailed reporting and data collection for full traceability and an ERP connection for smooth logistics and operations.

Mikskaar Miksgrow AS Professional Substrates

One of the customers close to Premier Tech is Mikskaar Miksgrow AS Professional Substrates. They are an Estonian family-owned business with 2 factories and one of the largest substrate producers in the country exporting to greenhouse growers and nursery operators worldwide.

“As Mikskaar Miksgrow we have seen the increased demand for growing media for a longer period as well: Going forward, peat extraction will simply not match the projected demand. Because of this mismatch in demand and resources we took the strategic decision as company to add – next to our peat-line Mikskaar - a peat-free product-line Miksgrow”, says Kristel Tombak, CEO at Mikskaar Miksgrow AS Professional Substrates. “This decision has also led to the rebranding of the company earlier last year, in 2024.”

" Going forward, peat extraction will simply not match the projected demand. "

Peat, improved peat and peat-free

Since the end of 2024, Mikskaar Miksgrow have started to add wood fiber to their substrates, they call these products improved peat. Wood fiber adds value to the substrates as the alternate materials enrich the traditional peat based on their respective characteristics and can help grow consistency as not every peat bog is the same. Moreover, the production of wood fiber is not as weather dependent as harvesting peat moss. But there is an even more practical consideration: raw material for wood fiber is more widely available while the opening of new peat fields is extremely limited for various reasons.

The use of alternate materials (in combination with peat or as a peat-free substrate) requires a totally different way of innovation and scientific research, for which Mikskaar Miksgrow collaborate with leading universities worldwide. But the impact on the day-to-day operations goes beyond research and development, it also requires different and sizeable investments: equipment to prepare the alternate material for mixing (e.g. Wood fiber machines), more and different types of bunkers to process the broad range of different raw materials, and even more advanced mixing capabilities and precision then were ever needed before. “In turn, all this extra equipment requires more energy and thus we have built a solar park to ensure our own supply of green energy. As you see, it might seem a small shift, but it is a shift that triggers a lot” affirms Kristel Tombak.

A partnership of over 25 years

“This innovation thinking, this partnership in exploring new options and of course the fact that Premier Tech has the full portfolio from peat bog equipment up to full mixing capabilities makes them the right partner for us to team up with for the past 25 years”, concludes Kristel Tombak.

Partner with us for the future of sustainable growing media

For over a century, Premier Tech has been at the forefront of horticultural innovation, combining expertise in peat with sustainable solutions for tomorrow's growing needs. Whether it's peat, improved peat, or alternative growing media, let’s shape the future together.