Abstract: This application relates generally to aerial mycelium and methods of making aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food or textile product or ingredient. The aerial mycelium can be grown using a growth matrix provided into a growth environment and introducing aqueous mist into the growth environment. The aqueous mist has a mean mist deposition rate to allow for aerial mycelial growth from the growth matrix.

Abstract: A mycelium sheet or panel material which has had an upper portion of its growing surface removed prior to or concurrently with harvest, provides a more homogeneous surface for later processing of the mycelium sheet or panel material into a mycelium-based textile. An additional rinsing step of a mycelium sheet or panel material which has had an upper portion removed provides a surface which is even more amenable to textile processing into a mycelium-based textile. Such removal and rinsing steps produce a mycelium-based sheet or panel material which provide more homogeneity, such as in color appearance or texture, thereby leading to a more homogeneous mycelium-based textile end product. By addressing and eventually removing fungal growth metabolites during the mycelial growth and harvest processes, later textile processing challenges with the mycelium-based material may be eliminated. Undesirable surface irregularities in the mycelium-based material of final textile products may also be eliminated.

Abstract: This application relates generally to aerial mycelium and methods of making aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food or textile product or ingredient. The aerial mycelium can be grown using a growth matrix provided into a growth environment and introducing aqueous mist into the growth environment. The aqueous mist has a mist deposition rate and a mean mist deposition rate to allow for aerial mycelial growth from the growth matrix.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine learning tools are described for controlled growth of mycelium such as aerial mycelium. Methods can include providing one or more growth environments including one or more inocula and a substrate, providing a monitoring system that transmits data to one or more processors and includes a machine learning tool that monitors environmental conditions and/or mycelium growth, and applying the machine learning tool to determine one or more changes to environmental conditions based on the data. The data can include real-time monitoring information on the environmental conditions or mycelium growth within the one or more growth environments. Further machine learning models are provided for selection and control of additional mycelium growth conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing supplemental growth conditions to substrates, growth matrices, and growing aerial mycelium materials are provided which allow for enhanced aerial mycelial growth or targeted mycelial growth from either select or entire portions of substrates, growth matrices, or growing aerial mycelial materials (such as panels), or within select or entire portions of growth environments, when compared to growth levels and/or attributes resulting from base-line growth conditions.

Abstract: This application relates generally to aerial mycelium and methods of making aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food or textile product or ingredient. The aerial mycelium can be grown using a growth matrix provided into a growth environment and introducing aqueous mist into the growth environment. The aqueous mist has a mean mist deposition rate to allow for aerial mycelial growth from the growth matrix.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes to grow a biomaterial made of aerial mycelium by sensing and controlling airborne mist concentration, regardless of relative humidity. A growth matrix comprising a growth medium and a fungus, is grown under controlled environmental conditions to produce a mycelium product. To control growth conditions precisely and efficiently, airborne mist is electronically detected using one or more sensors, configured to measure airborne mist concentration visually, optically, chemically, electromagnetically, or by laser, ultrasonically, with radar, or other means. Electronic detection of airborne mist using one or more sensors generates a signal that is transmitted to a processor that can either maintain, increase, or decrease airborne mist concentration in a growth environment. The present invention provides processes of growing mycelium that are repeatable and resource efficient, while providing high quality and quantity mycelium-based products.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for generating aerial mycelium, such as mycological material comprising solely mycelia from depleted substrate or depleted and rejuvenated substrate. Alternatively, methods are disclosed for generating mycelia and mushrooms from depleted substrate or depleted and rejuvenated substrate. Alternative methods are disclosed for generating differentiated mycelium materials using depleted substrate or depleted and rejuvenated substrate. The mycelia products that are generated can be used in the food industry (e.g., as a meat analog) and in other industries, such as textiles, packaging, and others. The present invention provides systems and methods for generating mycelia that are repeatable and energy efficient, while providing consistently high quality and quantity mycelium-based products.

Abstract: The invention describes a methodology for production of a secondary extra-particle fungal matrix for application as a mycological material, manufactured via a Type II actively aerated static packed-bed bioreactor. A pre-conditioned air stream is passed through a substrate of discrete elements inoculated with a filamentous fungus to form an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix between the discrete elements. Continued feeding of the air through the substrate of discrete elements and isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrixes develops an extra-particle hyphal matrix that extends from an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix in the direction of airflow into a void space within the vessel.

Abstract: The process for producing mycelium biomaterial provides fresh oxygen to the growing mycelium biomaterial while removing waste heat and waste carbon dioxide by forced aeration through large volumes of material. In a first phase of fungal expansion, humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through a fungal inoculated substrate of discrete particles to allow the fungal inoculum to expand and dominate the substrate. Nutrient is added to the inoculated mixture and a second phase of fungal expansion is performed wherein humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through the nutrient enriched fungal inoculated substrate to allow the fungal inoculum to bond the discrete particles into a self-supporting biocomposite. The process and apparatus of the invention allows for the processing of grown materials bound by mycelium at depths of greater than 6? and particularly in the range of from 24? to 28?.

Abstract: An improved mycelium in the form of an edible aerial mycelium that is suitable for use as a food product, including a food ingredient for making mycelium-based food, such as bacon. A method of making an edible aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food product, including a food ingredient. An edible product containing an edible aerial mycelium, and a method of making an edible product comprising an edible aerial mycelium, such as a mycelium-based bacon. A mycelium-based food product having a texture that is analogous to a whole-muscle meat product, wherein that whole-muscle meat product is bacon.

Abstract: This application relates generally to aerial mycelium and methods of making aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food or textile product or ingredient. Such a food product or ingredient can include edible aerial mycelium having a texture that is analogous to a whole-muscle meat product, such as for example mycelium-based bacon. Such a textile product or ingredient can be used in the manufacture of mycelium-based textile products, leather-like materials, petroleum-based product alternatives, or foams.

Abstract: The invention describes a methodology for production of a secondary extra-particle fungal matrix for application as a mycological material, manufactured via a Type II actively aerated static packed-bed bioreactor. A pre-conditioned air stream is passed through a substrate of discrete elements inoculated with a filamentous fungus to form an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix between the discrete elements. Continued feeding of the air through the substrate of discrete elements and isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrixes develops an extra-particle hyphal matrix that extends from an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix in the direction of airflow into a void space within the vessel.

Abstract: The process for producing mycelium biomaterial provides fresh oxygen to the growing mycelium biomaterial while removing waste heat and waste carbon dioxide by forced aeration through large volumes of material. In a first phase of fungal expansion, humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through a fungal inoculated substrate of discrete particles to allow the fungal inoculum to expand and dominate the substrate. Nutrient is added to the inoculated mixture and a second phase of fungal expansion is performed wherein humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through the nutrient enriched fungal inoculated substrate to allow the fungal inoculum to bond the discrete particles into a self-supporting biocomposite. The process and apparatus of the invention allows for the processing of grown materials bound by mycelium at depths of greater than 6? and particularly in the range of from 24? to 28?.

Abstract: The invention describes a methodology for production of a secondary extra-particle fungal matrix for application as a mycological material, manufactured via a Type II actively aerated static packed-bed bioreactor. A pre-conditioned air stream is passed through a substrate of discrete elements inoculated with a filamentous fungus to form an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix between the discrete elements. Continued feeding of the air through the substrate of discrete elements and isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrixes develops an extra-particle hyphal matrix that extends from an isotropic inter-particle hyphal matrix in the direction of airflow into a void space within the vessel.

Abstract: The mycelial foam contains macroscopic void spaces that are formed by filler elements, such as agar beads, that are incorporated in the mycelial matrix during growth of the matrix and are removed from the matrix after growth in a non-destructive manner, such as by heating. The foam may be made of pure mycelium or may be a composite biomaterial.

Abstract: The process for producing mycelium biomaterial provides two phases of incubation. In a first phase of fungal expansion, the fungal inoculum is allowed to expand and dominate the substrate. In a second phase, nutrient is added to the inoculated mixture to allow the fungal inoculum to bond the discrete particles into a self-supporting biocomposite. The process allows for the processing of grown materials in separate vessels with the second vessel providing the final shape of the biomaterial.

Abstract: The process for producing mycelium biomaterial provides fresh oxygen to the growing mycelium biomaterial while removing waste heat and waste carbon dioxide by forced aeration through large volumes of material. In a first phase of fungal expansion, humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through a fungal inoculated substrate of discrete particles to allow the fungal inoculum to expand and dominate the substrate. Nutrient is added to the inoculated mixture and a second phase of fungal expansion is performed wherein humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through the nutrient enriched fungal inoculated substrate to allow the fungal inoculum to bond the discrete particles into a self-supporting biocomposite. The process and apparatus of the invention allows for the processing of grown materials bound by mycelium at depths of greater than 6? and particularly in the range of from 24? to 28?.