Current state and future prospects of pure mycelium materials

Simon Vandelook,Elise Elsacker,Eveline Peeters,Aurélie Van Wylick,Lars De Laet

doi:10.1186/s40694-021-00128-1

Simon Vandelook, Elise Elsacker + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40694-021-00128-1

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Abstract

In the context of the ongoing transition from a linear to a circular economy, ecologically friendly renewable solutions are put in place. Filamentous fungi can be grown on various organic feedstocks and functionalized into a range of diverse material types which are biobased and thus more sustainable in terms of their production, use and recycling. Pure mycelium materials, consisting only of mycelial biomass, can adopt versatile properties and appear promising as a substitute for current petrochemically produced polymeric materials or, in the case of myco-leather, as a substitute for animal-based leather. In recent years, a handful of private companies have been innovating to bring products based on pure mycelium materials to the market while scientific interest in these promising biomaterials is now starting to gain momentum. In this primer, we introduce pure mycelium materials, frame different production methods, review existing and potential future applications, thereby offering a vision on future advances for this emerging fungi-based technology.

Highlights

In the context of the ongoing transition from a linear to a circular economy, ecologically friendly renewable solutions are put in place
In contrast to composite mycelium materials (CMM), in which the lignocellulosic substrate is intrinsic to the composition and characteristics of the material, the authors define pure mycelium materials (PMM) as to not contain left-over feedstock particles, Vandelook et al Fungal Biology and Biotechnology (2021) 8:20 can be upcycled as a nutritive vehicle to promote growth of fungal biomass with the possibility of integrating one or more additional specie(s) in a co-cultivation setup [24]
The increasing number of functional applications for mycelium materials qualifies it as a generation biomaterial even though much of this technology is still in its infancy

Summary

Introduction

In the context of the ongoing transition from a linear to a circular economy, ecologically friendly renewable solutions are put in place. In contrast to CMM, in which the lignocellulosic substrate is intrinsic to the composition and characteristics of the material, the authors define pure mycelium materials (PMM) as to not contain left-over feedstock particles, Vandelook et al Fungal Biology and Biotechnology (2021) 8:20 can be upcycled as a nutritive vehicle to promote growth of fungal biomass with the possibility of integrating one or more additional specie(s) in a co-cultivation setup [24]. Fermentation strategies to produce pure mycelium materials In contrast to CMM, for which a customized but relatively uniform production process has been established, PMM can be produced using diverse fermentation technologies.

Results

Conclusion