Growing Mushrooms on Junk: Mycoremediation and its Potential to Solve Humanity's Waste Problem



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Fungi are incredible decomposers that release enzymes which can break down many different kinds of materials and chemicals, some of which, toxic to our environment. Because of this, many have wondered, “Can fungi solve our pollution problem, and if so, how?”

Find out in this video as Breanna from North Spore dives into the world of mycoremediation by conducting her own experiments using waste materials to grow mushrooms. She also speaks with mycoremediation expert Dr. Lauren Czaplicki, who has used fungi to remediate contaminated soils, and Sue Van Hook, a mycologist who has invented the world’s first mushroom buoy in efforts to reduce plastic waste in our oceans.

We hope you enjoy this video!
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Products used in this video:

North Spore Blue Oyster Grain Spawn –
https://northspore.com/collections/grain-spawn/products/blue-oyster-grain-spawn/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alt-tek-video&utm_content=blue-oyster-grain-spawn

BoomRoom –
https://northspore.com/collections/martha-tents-supplies/products/boomroom-kit/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alt-tek-video&utm_content=boomroom-kit
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Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:05 Goodwill Buy the Pound
03:11 Prep/inoculating containers
05:07 Can mushrooms degrade plastic?
07:48 The dumpster dive
08:37 Prepping books
09:27 Remediating contaminated soils. Mycoremediation expert Dr. Lauren Czaplicki!
12:28 Inoculating books
13:09 Prep/inoculating clothing
15:25 Colonization (timelapse)
16:55 Fruiting!
18:46 Suistainable product development and reducing plastic waste in our oceans. A conversation with Sue Van Hook.
20:30 Outro
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Special thanks!

Dr. Lauren Czaplicki, PHD:

Science by Design – sciencebydesign.io

STUDY – Investigating the mycobiome of the Holcomb Creosote Superfund Site
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32229362/

STUDY – A New Perspective on Sustainable Soil Remediation-Case Study Suggests Novel Fungal Genera Could Facilitate in situ Biodegradation of Hazardous Contaminants
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27917031/

Sue Van Hook, Mycologist:

MycoBuoys – https://www.mycobuoys.com/

And Goodwill Buy the Pound.
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Additional Sources & Credits

STUDY – Degradation of Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic by Pleurotus ostreatus
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3744528/

“Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation”, by Tradd Cotter
https://northspore.com/collections/mushroom-books/products/organic-mushroom-farming-and-mycoremediation/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=alt-tek-video&utm_content=organic-mushroom-farming-mycoremediation

Music from Epidemic Sound.

Stock footage from Adobe Stock and Shutter Stock.
Free stock video from thenickmurphy and AlexKopeykin on Adobe Stock.

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15 thoughts on “Growing Mushrooms on Junk: Mycoremediation and its Potential to Solve Humanity's Waste Problem”

  1. How did you choose which species to use in these studies?

    If the plan isn't to eat the mushrooms then this may open up the market for researching/hunting/cultivating/selling species outside of the gourmet & medicinal realm.

    Reply
  2. Just about everything's a possible or probable carcinogen these days. The only exceptions are things like alcohol and sunlight that are definite carcinogens. I'm not making any effort to avoid things that we aren't even sure are carcinogenic, since that'd be kinda a lost cause.

    Reply
  3. If the heavy metals etc are bio-accumulated in the fruiting-bodies (making them unsuitable for consumption)…if they are left they will just decompose and return the toxins from whence they came…they need to be harvested and the toxins recovered for further use?
    Japanese researchers have found that fungal biodigesters can break down clean plastic waste into inert and harmless compounds…

    Reply

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