Future of Fungi: Mycoprotein's Role as an Alternative Protein

In this post, we’ll deep dive into the history of mycelium-based protein and explore how a decades-old technology is disrupting the alternative protein industry.

To learn more about the companies working on mycoprotein, sign up for our upcoming conversation with Libre Foods, MyForest Foods, Better Meat Co., and Tempty Foods!

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com/Dmytro Ostapenko

Why Mycoprotein?

The alternative protein industry represents a rich innovation landscape, encompassing everything from animal cell cultivation to 3D printing. Amid the array of novel proteins increasingly available, how is mycoprotein, a fungi-based meat alternative, distinct?   

One reason is taste— paramount in consumer food choices. Mycoprotein has a slight umami flavor and a texture similar to cooked chicken. As a result of the mild to nonexistent flavor profile, it can be used as a blank canvas for taste, and it mimics the consistency of meat with lower fat and saturated fat profiles than conventional proteins.

Additionally, fungi (from which mycoprotein is derived) are relatively easy to grow in controlled environments, and their protein and enzyme output are efficient and greater than yeast and bacteria — both regarded as powerhouses in the alternative protein realm.

Finally, the fermentation process (utilised to produce mycoprotein) is relatively low-intensity, providing an environmentally benign high-protein food source. For instance, comparing Quorn mycoprotein grounds with beef reveals ≥10 times less embedded carbon, land, and water use

Mycoprotein Production:

The production of mycoprotein is straightforward. The process involves fermenting the fungi with food-grade ingredients needed for growth, such as sugars and nutrients (similar to how beer is made).

The fungi mycelium is then (usually) heat-treated, centrifuged, and recovered. The resulting paste is mycoprotein. Using binding agents, the mycoprotein paste can be flavoured and shaped to achieve the desired taste and texture.

Emerging companies are exploring alternative methods for producing mycoprotein. For instance, MyForest Foods, located in the United States, is one of the few fungi-based companies employing solid-state fermentation. They grow the mycelium in indoor vertical farms, resulting in whole-cut pieces of food.

Whole-Cut Mycoprotein Bacon: Courtesy of Myforest Foods.

The History of Mycoprotein:

The building blocks of mycoprotein, fungi, exist in fossil records dating back approximately 900 million years. The best molecular evidence suggests that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants (though they categorically belong to neither group).

However, a primary component in many fungi's cell walls is chitin, a main component found in the shells of crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp, and lobster, leading some fungi enthusiasts down never-ending rabbit holes, exploring the exact nature of fungi.

Historically believed to be part of the plant kingdom, fungi have only recently (mid-20th century) been recognized as a ubiquitous  'Third Kingdom.' The fascination with fungi has resulted in a myriad of innovations — including problem-solving methods for the future of food.

Post World War II, concerns about the future of global food supply led to the (often contentious) innovations of the Green Revolution. Projections in population increase and anxieties around food shortages inspired scientists to explore opportunities for alternative proteins — leading to research into the protein-rich world of fungi and an in-depth screening of over 3,000 fungal species.

Though developed in the 1960s, Quorn was the first to coin 'mycoprotein' to describe their fungal-derived protein ingredient after the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food approved the product for food use in the mid-1980s. In 2002, the US FDA designated mycoprotein as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). 

Fungi. Image credit: Protein Directory

Mycoprotein Investment Landscape:

Fermentation technology, the pathway to mycoprotein production, experienced growing investment in 2021. Fermentation companies producing alternative proteins raised 1.69 Billion in 2021 (3x the amount raised in 2020), and industry projections suggest that mycoprotein market value may reach US$ 948.86 Million By 2029.

The emerging mycoprotein industry has been bolstered by several recent collaborations and funding rounds, including Tempty's collaboration with Marlow Foods (marking the first time Quorn products are available B2B), and Enough’s recent 40 million funding round. 

Although mycoprotein has been around for decades, the following companies are bringing new life to the field. Whether it's mycelium-based bacon or versatile mycoprotein ingredients for plant-based meals, the sector is full of innovators embracing fungi to bring consumers a more delicious and meat-free future.

Check out the Protein Directory for even more companies working on mycoprotein!

Better Meat Co. 
Better Meat Co. harnesses fermentation to make delicious, versatile mycoprotein ingredients for food companies to use as the basis of their hybrid and fully animal-free meats. Better Meat’s mycoprotein, Rhiza, takes less than a day to produce via fermentation. 
USA
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Tempty Foods
Tempty Foods is a pioneer in mycoprotein production, focusing on sustainability and taste superiority over meat imitation. The company's profile recently received a significant boost through its partnership with Marlow Ingredients, the division behind the renowned Quorn® brand by Marlow Foods. This groundbreaking alliance introduces Marlow mycoprotein, a powerhouse protein featured in over 100 Quorn alternatives, to Tempty Foods' product line.
Denmark
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Libre
Libre is an R&D-driven biotech company commercializing a platform of fungi-based products with the mission of reinventing the experience and nutrition of meat at the price of meat. Libre Foods launched the EU’s first fungi-based bacon and is now unlocking the first product of their whole-muscle cut mycelium range.  
Spain
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MyForest Foods
MyForest Foods launched its sellout product: mycelium-based MyBacon, in 2020. Currently, the company is scaling production at its 78,000 sq ft. vertical AirMycelium™ farm. MyForest Foods keeps ingredients simple, listing coconut oil, beet juice, and minimal salt and sugar as the primary ingredients aside from mycelium.
USA
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Mycelium Bacon: Courtesy of MyForest Foods
Enough
ENOUGH produces ABUNDA® mycoprotein, a complete food ingredient containing all essential amino acids as well as being high in dietary fibre. It is versatile and can be made into alternative/vegan meat, seafood, and dairy products. The company will supply ABUNDA as a B2B (business to business) food ingredient to consumer brands and retailers, addressing the need for a high scale supply of healthy and sustainable protein to address a rapidly growing market.
Scotland
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AquaCultured Foods
Aqua Cultured Foods is producing the first whole-muscle-cut seafood alternatives using fermentation. Aqua Cultured focuses on creating mycoprotein-based sushi (tuna and scallops) and minced shrimp, tuna, and calamari for cooked dishes.
USA 
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Image Credit: Chibe, Brittany. “Aqua Poke Bowl w Chop Sticks.” Aqua Cultured Foods. July 21, 2022.
“Mycoproteins are already on the market, and more are coming. For us specifically, our production methods, equipment, and the comparatively low cost of inputs allow us to scale up affordably and enter the market having burned far less capital.”
Brittany Chibe
Co-Founder and CGO at Aqua Culture Foods
Mycorena
Mycorena produces Promyc®, a trademarked mycoprotein, an ingredient that can be utilised to make various alt-protein products. While many mycoproteins can be challenging for 3D printers due to their fibrous nature, Mycorena's Promyc® is unique in that it avoids this challenge. In 2022, Mycorena announced a partnership with Revo Foods to utilise Revo Foods 3D technology to produce Promyc®-based 3D printed animal-free meats. Mycorena estimates that in comparison to beef, pork, and poultry, Promyc® emits 96%, 88%, and 78% less CO2, respectively. The comparison to plant-based protein is equally compelling. 240L of water is utilised to produce 1 kg of Promyc®. The corresponding figures for soybeans, poultry, lentils, and beef are 2500L, 3200L, 6000L, and 15000L.
Sweden
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Eternal
Eternal utilises AI to improve fungi fermentation techniques. Eternal’s proprietary fungi, Mycofood™, is made utilising Fusarium venenatum. Eternal estimates that Mycofood™ has 97% less impact than beef, 82% less impact than Chicken, and 11% less impact than soy — estimations determined by combining carbon dioxide emission, water consumption, and land use.
Argentina 
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