Ecovative, says Business Insider, uses mycelium to create new and eco-friendly materials that can replace plastics and styrofoam; however, the company also believes it can use this technology to support the creation of clean meat. Mycelium is the underground vegetative part of a fungus that seeks water and nutrients to help mushrooms grow. This differs from the current trend of cellular agriculture, in which several companies are using animal cells to produce slaughter-free chicken, burgers, sausages, and even fish to market. However, this burgeoning technology still has a ways to go with regard to flavor, texture, and cost. Ecovative hopes to provide both existing and emerging brands with mushroom-based “scaffolding,” or a platform that would allow the cells used to make lab-grown meat to take on the complex structure of the real thing. Through its recently-launched MycoFlex platform, Ecovative has already managed to grow leather-like material. The company is currently experimenting with using its unique “mushroom” cell scaffolding platform to grow cell-based meat, which has been hailed by many as a technological breakthrough that could help combat climate change and end world hunger.
IKEA’s Mushroom-Based Packaging Supplier Ecovative Is Planning to Revolutionize Lab-Grown Meat
