FAQ
I started the school of Mycelia because I know from experience how big the need is for consulting and course in our sector. After having started my own mycelium production company many years ago, I encountered a lot of beginners’ problems. I felt frustrated because I did not find an institution or place where I could learn my trade, and I had to overcome each one of my mistakes at high cost. The same when we upscaled.
And I was not alone: a lot of people were suffering needlessly because there was no proper exchange platform for basic professional information.
When I finally became a successful mycelium producer for specialty mushrooms, I promised myself to share my knowledge for the benefit of others. This was the basis of the school, and it still is.
As the demand for expertise knowledge grew, we decided to turn the school into a real academy and a separate company: Mycelia Academy BV.
We continue to investigate how we can help even more people with our knowledge, in all corners of the world, which is why we are also developing an online offer. We are not ready yet, but with our online offer too we will be able to help you enormously. That much is certain.
Magda Verfaillie, founder of Mycelia
No, we can not teach you how to grow these mushrooms, or how to make Agaricus bisporus compost.
But we can teach you all about the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus spawn in our spawn production group course. Check out the course here.
Do you really want to learn how to grow Agaricus bisporus mushrooms or compost? Then join a course in the Netherlands from Mark den Ouden’s Mushroom Office.
Too much to list here. But in short, we will teach you all the basics you need to cultivate filamentous fungi industrially. The best way to explore our programs is here.
The course is in English.
However, to a certain extent, we can accommodate French-, German- and Spanish-speaking participants. But we cannot translate everything: English will always be the main language and the documents are exclusively provided in the English language.
- Citizens from the EU can travel freely to and from Belgium and do not need a visa.
- Citizens from outside the EU need a visa.
Do you need a visa? Then be sure to read our other FAQs on visas.
If you need a visa for the EU, you should apply for it well in advance as the process can be long and difficult.
- We recommend you start the application period at least 4 months before the course.
- Check our refund conditions so you can take this timing into account during the visa application and while selecting an achievable course date.
- We know from experience that getting permission to travel to Europe is not easy for some regions and many visa applications are regrettably not approved. This is unfortunately beyond our control. Our experience is that the visas for 95% of our registered participants from Africa, Asia and South America to our courses are refused.
- For people to whom has been granted a Shengen visa before, it is less complicated.
- You must apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
What do applicants from Africa, Asia and South America usually have to do from their embassy?
- Some of you will need an invitation letter to the course. Upon request, we can write such an invitation letter for your embassy. Please complete this document with your personal data and send it back to us. We will then undersign and stamp it and provide you with a scan.
- Add the scan to your visa application form(s) and be well prepared before you go to the Belgian Embassy, for you will have to prove the following:
- that the purpose of your visit is serious, and related to your actual professional activity
- that you will be able to finance your stay, and your repatriation if necessary
- that there is no risk that you will stay in Belgium illegally after the course is finished
- For that reason the embassy staff may ask a series of questions. Be well prepared to defend your application personally, that will be more convincing. Please make sure that the information you give is 100% correct, for everything is thoroughly checked. If there is any doubt at all about the reliability or the financial situation of the company, the visa will be refused.
- We wish you the best of luck.
We only keep the place available until 1 month before the course start date due to large waiting lists. If the visa application can’t be approved before then of we have not received confirmation, we will cancel the reserved spot and give the place to a person on the waiting list.
We are very sorry. Unfortunately, without an approved visa, you cannot come to our course in Belgium. You will have to cancel your participation. Please inform us as soon as possible by sending an email to info@mycelia-academy.org. Clearly mention your name and the date of the course edition you are cancelling for.
Depending on the date you cancel, either no refund is possible or you will receive a full or partial refund. Please check the refund conditions well in advance, we follow them strictly. For this reason, we advise you to start your visa application 4 months before the start of the course so you, in case it is not approved, can cancel in time and get a full refund.
In principle, non-resident businesses should be able to recover all, or part of the VAT incurred.
More information is to be found here: https://finance.belgium.be/en/enterprises/vat/international/foreign-vat-refunds
On the website of the EU you can claim your refund: https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/taxation/vat/vat-refunds/index_en.htm?mc_cid=0483374823&mc_eid=UNIQID
Surprisingly, your invoice with VAT is most likely correct. We understand that it is a bit confusing: as a non-resident company within the EU you normally don’t have to pay VAT on purchased goods from another EU member. But here is an exception, Mycelia Academy has to comply with the new EU regulation on on-site course. This means, in accordance with Art. 21, §3, 3° WBTW, we have to charge VAT for courses.
Included:
- The course
- A syllabus of the course
- During the Substrate and Mushroom Production course: company visits
- A light lunch every day of the course
- Snacks, juice, water, tea and coffee during breaks.
- Welcome dinner the first evening, with an evening visit to the beautiful city of Ghent.
Not included:
- Dinners are at your own expense, except for the welcome dinner on the first evening. The B&B provides a simple one-option evening menu every day during group courses.
- Board and lodging are not included, but you get a discount for staying in “B&B De Steenhove” if you book through us.
Benefits:
- You can book the nearby accommodation “B&B De Steenhove” directly with us as a free service to enjoy a 10% price reduction on the Booking.com prices. If you book through Booking.com, you do not get this reduction.
- If you wish to eat outdoors, you can book an electric car at the B&B.
Yes, you can. If you cancel your participation:
- At least 30 days before the start of the course, we will refund 100% minus bank fees.
- 30 to 15 days before the start, we will refund 50% minus bank fees
- Less than 15 days before the start of the course course, no refund will be made as it will be very difficult for us to fill your place at such a short notice.
Of course, exceptions apply in the event of force majeure. Force majeure includes the following situations:
- If circumstances beyond our control – such as government-imposed restrictions, public health crises, or similar large-scale disruptions – require us to cancel the course. In this case, we will refund the full amount or offer you the option to transfer your registration to another course within the upcoming year (subject to availability).
- If restrictions in the participant’s country (e.g. travel bans or quarantine requirements due to health or safety concerns) make it impossible for you to travel to Belgium. In this case, we kindly ask for documentation as proof.
- If unforeseeable natural disasters, armed conflicts, or similar extreme events make travel impossible or prohibited. Documentation may be requested.
- In case of hospitalization of the participant or death of a close family member.
We expect these exceptions to be rare, but we understand that life is unpredictable and we’ll always do our best to handle cancellations with fairness and empathy.
Sure, you can.
After registration, you can select this option in a form so that we know that you are looking for accommodation yourself.
But here is your best deal: “B&B De Steenhove”, located 200m from Mycelia, offers a Bed & Breakfast formula with individual rooms. We strongly recommend that all participants stay here, because of the proximity to our facilites and because the B&B offers great networking opportunities for you to enjoy in the evenings.
If you opt for De Steenhove, you can indicate this choice after registration and we will book your room at a 10% discount.
You can book “B&B De Steenhove” directly with us as a free service and enjoy a 10% price reduction on the above prices.
How to book? After registering for the course, you will receive an invitation to book your room digitally and indicate your room preference. Payment will be made during the course at the B&B reception.
These are the prices of B&B Steenhove (without discount):
- Double room – 1 person: € 95/night, breakfast included
- Double room – 2 persons: € 102/night, breakfast included
- Shared duplex (only 4 available), with kitchenette, max. 2 persons: € 70 per person/night, breakfast included
Please note that if you book via Booking.com, you will not receive this discount. Do not make a double booking. If you book yourself, please let us know.
Your course fee includes:
- A light lunch every day: bread with toppings, charcuterie, cheese, an egg dish and soup.
- Snacks, juice, water, tea and coffee during breaks.
- Welcome dinner on the first night, with an evening visit to the beautiful city of Gent.
Other dinners are at your own expense. The B&B provides a simple one-option evening menu every day during group courses. If you wish to eat outdoors, the B&B has free electric cars available for its guests.
Make sure to specify any allergies or diets on the application form you will receive.
Sure. Just let us know when you make your application and we will adapt the catering to your needs.
We have catered for students with the following diets/allergies the past years: halal, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, lactose free and (pea)nut allergy.
18 people in a group course.
We never had to cancel a group course due to a lack of subscriptions, but we do indeed have a minimum limit.
We cannot organise a group course for less than 15 people. Should we ever have to cancel due to limited subscriptions, we will refund 100% of the course fee.
Yes, you do.
Every participant also receives a USB stick at the end of the course, containing the complete course and some extras.
This page is under construction. If you have any question regarding our online courses, please contact us here.
That’s right, our online offer is not ready yet.
At the moment, we are developing a module on a subject that is so precious but often overlooked: hygiene. We want to offer the right information once and for all, and we are working hard on that. Once this insightful module is ready, you will find it on this website. Do you want to be informed about its launch? Sign up here for our newsletter.
Later on, we will also share our knowledge about spawn, substrate and mushroom production with you online. But such a wealth of information is not created in a blink of an eye. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait that long: you can gain this knowledge during our on-site courses in Belgium.
This page is under construction. If you have any question regarding our consulting services, please contact us here.
Yes, at Mycelia Academy you are at the right place for many questions concerning industrial mycelium and substrate production. We can also help you with lignicolous mushroom production, although for some topics we will refer you to other partners from our expertise network. We help find the best path for your search.
But consulting is usually not yet a good idea if you have little experience or have not yet taken any course. In that case you should not yet invest in expensive consulting, there are better roads to take.
Experience taught us that a lot of consulting questions are part of the standard curriculum of our on-site courses. These courses are less expensive, and thus the ideal step towards consulting.
consulting is really for the advanced. You need to have solid knowledge and a broad overview, otherwise you won’t be sufficiently served by the good advice from our consultants. Is that the case with you? Welcome with your quest!