Our Projects

Fungi are the largest, oldest, and most sustainable recycling system on our planet. Every year, fungi convert and break down several million tons of biomass. Fungi are masters of biotechnology—they produce highly effective enzymes and biochemicals that break down substances into their molecular components and use them to build entirely new substances. Fungi decontaminate soil, break down plastic, and clean polluted water. They recycle resources and close natural nutrient cycles.

The symbiotic networks of mycorrhizal fungi show us that cooperation is the key to sustainable life. The invisible mycorrhizal fungal networks in the soil enable communication among all plants in the immediate vicinity. When a plant needs a nutrient, it transmits this information to the mycorrhiza; the mycorrhiza then communicates with the other plants in the area and, if the nutrient is available, delivers the substance directly to the roots of the plant that requested it.

Good health starts with clean air, clean water, and clean food. "The microbe is nothing, the milieu is everything." Mushrooms have always been an important component of traditional healing methods and offer versatile therapeutic possibilities through bioactive compounds such as beta-glucans, terpenoids, and various enzymes. The goal is to harness the natural expertise of mushrooms for modern remedies.

In collaboration with leading institutions, we are conducting groundbreaking studies to explore the therapeutic potential of mushrooms in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. Initial findings suggest that certain mushroom species may have positive effects on cognition, memory, and mood. Additionally, we are investigating the potential of mushrooms to offer natural, side-effect-free alternatives to conventional cholesterol-lowering medications. These initiatives represent a promising frontier in medical science and offer hope for innovative treatments in areas where traditional medicine has reached its limits.

Research on therapeutic mushrooms is indeed an active and exciting field. Various mushroom species such as lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and cordyceps are being studied for their neuroprotective and cholesterol-lowering properties. While the results are promising, it is important to emphasize that many of these studies are still in the early stages and further clinical research is needed before definitive therapeutic recommendations can be made.

Mushroom cultivation is a key component in establishing a closed-loop nutrient cycle in agriculture and food production. It helps prevent the loss of biological resources: waste materials from plant production and manure from livestock farming serve as substrate materials for mushroom cultivation. In addition, mycelium-infused residual substrates from medicinal and health-promoting mushroom production can be used as immune-boosting and nutritious animal feed and subsequently utilized for humus formation through composting.

The foundation is dedicated to promoting sustainable agricultural practices by researching the use of mycorrhizal fungi to improve soil health and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These efforts aim to regenerate degraded soils, promote biodiversity, and ensure long-term food security. By integrating fungi into agricultural systems, we hope to create more resilient and environmentally friendly farming practices that can benefit both ecosystems and communities.

Mycorrhiza research is a particularly important area of regenerative agriculture. These symbiotic fungi form networks with plant roots and can increase nutrient uptake by up to 1000%, improve water retention, and promote natural disease resistance. Such approaches are crucial for addressing the challenges of climate change and soil degradation in modern agriculture.

We are developing a series of educational programs aimed at professionals in agriculture, forestry, food production, environmental engineering, education, medicine, and psychotherapy. Courses for beginners in these fields are also offered to the general public. The educational programs focus on the roles of fungi in health, sustainability, and ecological balance. 

Through hands-on training and expert-led workshops, participants gain the knowledge and skills they need to apply mushroom-based solutions in their respective fields.

Our goal is to raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the importance of mushrooms across various sectors. This interdisciplinary approach is particularly valuable because mushrooms have applications in so many areas—from soil regeneration and mycoremediation (environmental remediation) to medical research. Educational programs that bring together different disciplines can create important synergies and foster innovative applications.

Mycelium-based products, such as vegan leather, packaging materials, insulation, and building materials, as well as electronic components like mycelium-based circuit boards, offer eco-friendly alternatives to animal-derived or synthetic materials. They are durable, biodegradable, and renewable.

Mushrooms offer exciting possibilities in the field of sustainable construction. The foundation is researching the use of mushroom-based materials as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional building materials. These biological materials have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of construction while offering durable, renewable, and biodegradable solutions.

The development of mycelium-based building materials is a particularly innovative field. Mycelium can act as a natural “glue,” binding organic waste into solid, insulating materials. Companies like Ecovative Design have already developed mycelium insulation and packaging. These materials are not only sustainable but can also exhibit fire-retardant and insulating properties, making them attractive for various construction applications.

Establishment of a global cryobank to preserve genetic material from fungal species found worldwide, with the aim of safeguarding their biological diversity for the future. In the culture bank, living fungal organisms are stored in cryostasis capsules. Unlike human cryopreservation, fungi can already be successfully revived.

Recognizing the critical need to preserve biodiversity, the Foundation is establishing a global cryobank to protect the genetic material of endangered fungal species. This initiative will ensure the preservation of fungal cultures through advanced cryopreservation techniques and guarantee their availability for future generations. 

By collaborating with leading mycologists and conservationists, we aim to create a resilient repository that will support future research and efforts to protect endangered fungal species. This initiative is of enormous scientific significance. Fungi are one of the least studied groups of organisms—estimates suggest that only about 5% of all fungal species have been scientifically described. 

A global cryobank not only preserves threatened species but also serves as an invaluable resource for pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, and ecosystem restoration. Such biobanks are crucial, as many fungal species are threatened by habitat loss and climate change before they are even discovered.

Such a center of excellence would fill an important gap, as mycological knowledge is often scattered across various disciplines. A central platform could foster synergies between medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental sciences. Particularly valuable would be the integration of traditional knowledge about medicinal mushrooms with modern scientific research, as well as the provision of standardized protocols for mushroom cultivation and identification for various applications.

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