Fungi Mutarium – Growing Food on Toxic Waste

Livin Studio, Graz Austria www.livinstudio.com

About Fungi Mutarium

In collaboration with Utrecht University, we developed a novel fungi food product grown using (plastic) waste, a prototype to grow it, and culinary tools to eat it. Fungi Mutarium is a prototype that grows edible fungal biomass, mainly mycelium, as a novel food product. Fungi are cultivated on specifically designed agar shapes that the designers called “FUs”. Agar is a seaweed-based gelatin substitute and acts, mixed with starch and sugar, as a nutrient base for the fungi. The “FUs” are filled with plastic material. Once the fungi are inserted, they digest the plastic and overgrow the whole substrate. The shape of the “FU” is designed to contain the plastic and offer the fungi a broad surface to grow on. Its shape was inspired by mushrooms and other plants in nature.

The user should be reminded of harvesting mushrooms in the forest when harvesting the "FUs". The process entails five stages. First, in the “Activation Cylinder” on the bottom of the mutarium, the plastic is treated with ultraviolet light, to sterilize it and activate its degradation, making it more easily accessible for the fungi. Second, plain “FUs” are placed in the mutarium´s Growth Sphere with pincers, to work in as sterile a manner as possible. Third, the sterilized plastic is then put into the “FUs”, ready to be digested. Fourth, “Macerate” (fungi sprouts in liquid nutrient solution) are extracted with a pipette from the Fungi Nursery. Finally, the extracted macerate is dropped into the “FUs” to ignite the growing process. After a couple of weeks, the ready-grown “FUs” can be taken out to be prepared and eaten. Fungi Mutarium is a conceptual device that presents ongoing research and is currently not a commercially available product.

Statement of the Jury

This is a visionary and challenging project that addresses two very important issues: dealing with plastic waste, and growing more food to feed the world. The jury liked that the concept uses an existing resource – fungi mushrooms – and not something invented or designed. There was a significant amount of discussion within the jury about this project. What was liked very much was the close collaboration of designers and scientists, a powerful combination to address the visionary goals of creating more food and eliminating plastic waste. The project has a scientific foundation, and design is the catalyst that opens up dialogue on ways to address these issues. Should this technology prove feasible, either on a small scale as shown here or even on a large scale, it could help solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

Designer

Julia Kaisinger

Since 2015 Co-founder of LIVIN farms; Participant of HAX Accelerator Programm
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2001 - 2006 Graduation College for Graphic and Communication Design, Linz, Austria,
Graphic Design Internships
2006 - 2007 Architectural Studies, Technical University Vienna, Austria
2007 - 2011 University of Applied Arts Vienna, Industrial Design Studio Hartmut Esslinger (Founder of Frog Design)
2009 - 2010 Internship at frog design europe gmbh, Germany
2011 - 2012 College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
2012 - 2013 University of Applied Arts Vienna, Industrial Design Studio Fiona Raby, from Dunne&Raby London / Royal College of Art, London, UK
2012 - 2015 Freelance designer for: checkpointmedia AG, multimedia products and services; dottings, Industrial Design; KIM+HEEP , Office for Design and Architecture
Since 2015 Co-founder of LIVIN farms; Participant of HAX Accelerator Programm

Katharina Unger

Since 2014 Founder of Livin Studio and Livin Farms based in Hong Kong & Austria; HAX accelerator Shenzhen China
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1996 - 2008 Graduation with highest honors, specializing in Natural Sciences
2008 - 2011 University of Applied Arts Vienna, Studio Hartmut Esslinger (Founder of Frog Design)
2010 Internship at Native Design Ltd., London, UK
2011 Freelance designer at Polka Products, Vienna, Austria
2011 - 2013 University of Applied Arts Vienna, Studio Fiona Raby, Dunne&Raby London / Royal College of Art, London, UK
2012 Internship Michael Young Ltd., Hong Kong, China
2013 - 2014 Fulbright Grant Design for Social Impact, University of the Arts Philadelphia, USA
Since 2014 Founder of Livin Studio and Livin Farms based in Hong Kong & Austria; HAX accelerator Shenzhen China
device = mobile