A Polish research and production centre Instytut Urządzeń Ekstrakcyjnych is applying pharmaceutical-grade supercritical CO₂ extraction to functional mushrooms, producing standardised ingredients with verified bioactive profiles. Their flagship Lion's Mane extract is standardised to 10% hericenones and 22% ergosterol, setting a new benchmark for ingredient transparency. Research conducted with Warsaw's SGGW university confirms that CO₂-extracted oils achieve oxidative stabili

Harvesting can account for half of a farm's total production costs. Here is what the industry's most experienced growers are doing about it. This article is published in partnership with MushComb . A Booming Market With a Labour Problem The global mushroom market is large, growing, and structurally under-equipped. Valued at around $65 billion in 2024 , it is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030, driven by rising demand for plant-based protein, functional nutrition, and a

A single yeast-derived ingredient could replace multiple food additives, offering cleaner labels and simpler formulations for mainstream food and drink products. Swiss startup Cosaic has raised $6M in a seed extension round, backed by DSM-Firmenich Ventures, bringing its total funding to $12.5M. With regulatory approvals underway in the US and Europe, Cosaic is positioning its flagship ingredient, Cosaic Neo, for commercial launch.

Chitosan extracted from oyster mushroom stems could replace bentonite, a standard but wasteful clay-based fining agent, in white wine production.

ÄIO's RedOil, produced from upcycled organic waste streams via fermentation, has entered the consumer market through a commercial skincare serum in partnership with Estonian brand tilk!

Swiss fermentation company Planetary has raised $28 million to commercialise a licensing model that turns sugar processing byproducts into proteins, fibres, and enzymes.

Clear-cutting boreal forests does not reduce the total number of ectomycorrhizal fungal species, but permanently alters which species are present, with effects lasting at least a century.

Mushroom species such as Pleurotus ostreatus can degrade up to 95% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in controlled conditions, pointing to a powerful enzymatic toolkit for cleaning polluted land.

A UK biotech startup is converting waste bread into a high-performance cosmetic oil, offering the beauty industry a credible alternative to palm oil. CleanOil 25 has already received regulatory approval in the UK, EU, and US, and was co-developed with major industry partners THG Labs and Croda. The technology, rooted in a decade of university research, cuts greenhouse gas emissions by over 95% compared to conventional agricultural oils.

A UK startup is using an ancient fungal fermentation technique to transform discarded cocoa shells into a lower-cost, lower-carbon cocoa replacement. Fermtech's Koji Cocoa can reduce production emissions by 98% and cut ingredient costs for manufacturers by up to a third. With £2.5M in fresh funding, the Oxford-based company is moving towards commercial scale at a moment when cocoa prices and supply volatility are at historic extremes.