FUNGATERIA

What are the perspectives of using fungi to make ‘Engineered Living Materials’?

‘Engineered Living Materials’ (ELM) are capable of self-assembling, self-regulating, self-repairing and adapting to environmental cues. FUNGATERIA is an interdisciplinary EU-funded project focused on bringing mycelium-based materials into an ELM context. ELMs represent an emerging class of materials that build upon recent advances in synthetic biology and material science and have the potential to radically transform our material cultures – from resource sourcing to production, applications and end-of-life.

Imagine a slipper made of mycelium-based vegan leather that repairs itself when damaged; or a sheet-like material that can naturally degrade environmental pollutants. These two examples of use are currently being explored within the FUNGATERIA project.