Cleaning polluted water with fungi may sound unconventional, but for MycoFarming it's a scalable solution to one of Europe's most pressing environmental challenges. The cleantech startup has joined the Planet B.io community in Delft, where it will accelerate the development and scaling of its modular mycelium-based water treatment technology.
Founded around the idea that nature already offers powerful solutions to pollution, MycoFarming has developed engineered mycelium systems capable of removing contaminants such as PFAS, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues and excess nutrients from water. "We basically use fungi to clean the world," says Robert Breton, Co-founder and CEO at MycoFarming. "Fungi are incredibly good at breaking down complex compounds and absorbing pollutants. That allows us to tackle contaminants that existing technologies either can't remove effectively or only at a very high cost."
Rather than replacing existing water treatment infrastructure, MycoFarming complements it. The company's modular treatment systems are designed to target pollutants that conventional wastewater treatment plants struggle with, helping water authorities and industrial customers comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. "Our role is to help customers remain compliant," explains Max Nijman, Co-founder and CTO. "Their licence to operate increasingly depends on meeting stricter water quality standards. We provide the infrastructure that enables them to do exactly that."
A modular approach to water remediation
At the heart of MycoFarming's technology is a modular container system fitted with interchangeable "mycelium cartridges." Each cartridge is optimised for a specific pollutant, allowing the company to quickly configure solutions for different contamination challenges without designing an entirely new system every time. "You can compare it to a printer," Robert explains. "The container is the printer, while the cartridges each target a different pollutant. By combining different cartridges, we can create a solution tailored to the customer's needs while keeping the system standardised and scalable."
The modular setup also enables rapid deployment. Whether tackling industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff or an unexpected pollution incident, MycoFarming aims to deliver flexible treatment systems that require little infrastructure and consume very little energy.
"We want to be the first company people think of whenever there's a pollution problem. If we can be affordable, fast and reliable, we can make a real impact."
Timing is everything
The company believes the market is reaching a tipping point. New European legislation is placing increasing pressure on industries, hospitals and water authorities to improve water quality, creating demand for practical and cost-effective treatment technologies. "We've landed in what you could call the perfect storm," says Max. "The regulatory pressure is increasing rapidly, while organisations are actively looking for affordable solutions. The timing is very much in our favour."
Current pilot projects focus on removing phosphates, PFAS and pharmaceutical residues from water, working together with water authorities, hospitals and industrial partners. The long-term ambition is to become a key player in wastewater treatment and industrial water remediation across Europe.
Why Planet B.io?
For MycoFarming, joining Planet B.io is about much more than laboratory space. "As we continue building our library of mycelium cartridges, consistent validation becomes increasingly important," says Robert. "The facilities at Planet B.io allow us to test many more pollutants, much faster than before. That significantly accelerates our R&D."
Max also sees Delft's ecosystem as an important advantage. "We were excited by everything this ecosystem offers: the research facilities, the industrial network, the logistics infrastructure and, above all, the technical talent. If you want hands-on biotech and process engineering talent, Delft is exactly where you want to be."
With research accelerating and commercial pilots progressing, MycoFarming is now preparing for the next phase of growth. The company aims to scale towards large scale commercial deployment while continuing to expand its technology platform. Or, as Robert puts it: "We want to be the first company people think of whenever there's a pollution problem. Whether it's a long-term challenge or an emergency. If we can be affordable, fast and reliable, we can make a real impact."
Curious to learn more about MycoFarming?
Get in touch with MycoFarming to explore collaboration opportunities or discover more about how their mycelium-based technology can help tackle complex water pollution challenges.