Lecture: How fungi can save the world, for climate, biodiversity, nutrition & health

Fungal enzymes can open the recalcitrant structures of lignocellulosic plant cell wall fibers. This makes it possible to convert what we now waste or underutilize crop residues and food processing side-streams to biobased materials and energy. Such biobased products can substitute for fossil-based products, hereby contributing to reducing emissions and mitigating climate change. But much more than these, plant residues can also be converted to animal feed (for pigs, chicken, fish). Now 78% of all arable land is used for animal feed. Making animal feed from residue leaves space for biodiversity, contributing to stopping biodiversity loss; and space for producing food for the soon 10 billion people. Even more: Fungi, fungal enzymes and fungal fermentations can be used to produce gut-health-promoting animal feed (=> significant reduction of antibiotics); as well as gut-health-promoting food, for improved public health (available, accessible and affordable as we currently waste/underutilize almost half of all produced (>20% side-streams & 34% food waste). Speeding up the transition to a more climate friendly plant-based diet, when it is not just plant-based, but plant & fungi based, adding the deliciousness of umami taste. Furthermore, fungal-based solutions can be achieved, eg for production of sustainable building materials (mycelium of wood degrading fungi, grown in fiber-rich plant residues for acoustics and beautification); for new architecture, for new design and arts; for new types of textiles and leather, made from fungal mycelium for drinking water from polluted water, for fungal-based batteries etc. This generates new jobs, stimulates business and socioeconomic development.

Lecture: GROWING DESIGN – THE NATURAL ALCHEMY OF BECOMING

Partnering with Funga to deliver a re-generative material culture

We live in a time of separation, from fellow humans as well as from Nature. The Anthropocene, as inevitable result of core factors such as mankind's activities and overall selfish behaviors, is dominantly impacting on climate, ecosystem and society at large, as we face major disruptions and challenges such as - to name few - the extinction of entire species, the loss of biodiversity, the depletion of natural resources, the incremental increase of global temperatures, increasing inequalities, perpetrated discriminations, etc. As part of this complex condition, one thing is for sure: the future isn't about erecting barriers, but it is rather about learning to come together, understanding our relationship to Nature and its many agents, deciphering their interconnected functioning and becoming once again pivotal part of it all.

Based on such context, the keynote presentation will function as space for inspiration, critical reflections, factual demonstrations, and collective creative production, encouraging the audience to actively engage in questioning dominant narratives and traditional production paradigms.

By diving into the kingdom of Fungi and unraveling some of the opportunities that emerge from processes of active entanglement and cooperation with such skilful teachers and companions, we will jointly explore how their very body – and the transitionally regenerative processes that fungal mycelium embodies and triggers – can support us in promoting a radical paradigm shift, leading to a revised notion of growth, as deriving from radical transformations rooted in sensorial encounters. Thus, contributing to positively impact both human and non-human societies, seeking balance between the role of the individual and the complexity of the relational ecosystem he's immersed in.

Lecture: The Future is Fungi – co-creating the next era of environmental innovations for humanity

We are seeing the emergence of a fungal economy where fungal solutions show the way for how we can co-create with nature, enabling innovations that puts humanity on a more regenerative path.

In The Future is Fungi Award, we see the most pioneering innovations worldwide, and during her talk, the founder Susanne will give an insight into these the frontier innovations, and why now more than ever we need to cooperate with nature for the solutions we need.

The Future is Fungi Award is a global launchpad for pioneering fungi startups and science entrepreneurs, catalyzing their innovations to the world. It gathers scientists, startups, corporates and investors to forge a new path for the fungal economy.

With a background as a sustainability pioneer in leading positions in finance for more than a decade, Susanne is now building this global fungal ecosystem and award for fungal startups and science entrepreneurs. With a background from finance, she is also investing in trailblazing fungi startups worldwide through The Fungi Investment Collective, inviting private investors with her on the journey.

Lecture: Bio-Based to Brand Ready: Mycelium Materials for the Next Generation “Like fungi, startups grow in unexpected ways.

Join the founders of MycoFutures as they trace their path from a Newfoundland mushroom farm to a global biomaterial innovation company developing a mycelium-based leather alternative, with a mission to prove that prioritizing people and planet can also drive profit.

In this talk, they explore the ups and downs of building and scaling a circular startup, the value of storytelling and resilience, and the partnerships that helped them grow. With the launch of their first Austrian designer collaboration, they reflect on how the exciting intersection of science, business and sustainability is bringing new products to market. This talk offers a dual lens on running a business inspired by nature, with insights drawn from both the fungal world and the startup ecosystem.”