The Future is Fungi Award

Introduction to the Metaproblem

The Future is Fungi Award addresses the urgent need for radical innovation to tackle the planetary crisis - from climate change and biodiversity loss to waste and pollution. Our current systems are failing to regenerate ecosystems, transition away from fossil-based materials, and support nature-based solutions at scale.

Despite their vast potential, fungi remain one of the most underutilized tools in our environmental toolbox. The award responds to this by unlocking the transformative power of fungi science and entrepreneurship - supporting pioneers who dare to imagine and build a more regenerative world. We’re bridging the gap between frontier research, startup innovation, and real-world environmental impact.

We are mobilizing a systemic shift towards a nature-centric system. Our current systems are fueled by petrochemicals - from the products we use in our homes, the food we eat, to the energy we rely on. These systems are linear and extractive, whereas fungi can help guide us toward a circular, bio-based future.

The mission is to accelerate the transition to a system that co-creates with nature, in balance with nature. Fungi are the next frontier in biotechnology and sustainability, aiding this systemic shift.

Why This Is Urgent

The world is facing a convergence of environmental crises - climate change, soil degradation, pollution, and biodiversity collapse—that demand immediate, bold, and regenerative solutions.

At the same time, we are waking up to the extraordinary, yet still vastly untapped, potential of fungi to help address these crises—locally and globally.

Fungi can break down toxic waste, capture carbon, regenerate soils, replace polluting materials, and provide sustainable food and medicine. But despite their promise, fungi-based innovations remain underfunded, underrecognized, and under-deployed.

This moment is urgent: we need to invest in frontier fungi innovations now to shift from extractive systems toward regenerative ones.

Systemic Connections

The systemic challenges we face - climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and social inequality - are deeply interconnected and require holistic, regenerative solutions.

Fungi offer unique, scalable tools to respond to these planetary dynamics. From mycoremediation of polluted soils, to fungi-based materials that reduce dependence on fossil fuels, to climate-resilient food systems, fungi innovation is key to building circular, inclusive economies.

Those developing fungi-based solutions - especially early-stage scientists and entrepreneurs - need accelerated access to funding, visibility, and networks.

The Future is Fungi Award directly addresses this gap by accelerating fungi pioneers who are creating impact at the intersection of science, nature, and equity.

The Cost of Inaction

Without investing in these solutions now, we risk missing one of the most promising opportunities to shift our systems toward regeneration - before irreversible damage is done.

Core Problem in the Bioregion

The Future is Fungi focuses globally, but supports context-specific fungal innovation where environmental damage is most pressing—such as polluted soils, industrial waste, degraded forests, and climate-vulnerable regions.

Our current systems continue to rely on toxic materials and petrochemical inputs, deeply harming communities and ecosystems. Few scalable, natural solutions have reached the market due to lack of funding, awareness, and cross-sector collaboration.

Fungi have been tested as local bioremediation agents and bio-based material producers, but these solutions haven’t received enough support to scale. We’re here to change that.

Projects Currently Supported

The Future is Fungi is a global nonprofit catalyzing frontier fungal innovations and entrepreneurs worldwide.

We support innovators working on:

• Fungal materials for sustainable housing, clothing, and packaging
• Soil and water mycoremediation to clean contaminated areas
• Storing carbon underground using fungi-based solutions
• Biobatteries and biomaterials that replace toxic industrial inputs
• Circular fungi systems that upcycle textile and construction waste

These initiatives are led by early-stage scientists and nature-based entrepreneurs.

We’ve helped projects reach visibility, secure funding, and initiate partnerships—with milestones including the creation of myco-based batteries and plastic-eating fungi deployed in test environments.

Why People Should Donate

This is the first global initiative to accelerate fungi innovation for the planet. No other ecosystem brings together scientists, startups, investors, and corporations solely dedicated to fungi-based solutions.

Your donation will:

• Catalyze frontier fungi science and startup founders
• Fund programs that help them build regenerative businesses
• Raise awareness about the vast environmental potential of fungi
• Enable collaboration between science and industry for scaling impact

Fungi embody regeneration. They transform waste into life—turning plastic, food, textile, and agricultural waste into packaging, food, or soil-regenerative materials.

Supporting fungi innovation is supporting planetary healing and ecological justice.

What Donations Support

• A 3-month program for 5 scientists to build startups from their research
• Coordination of fungi innovation industry working groups
• Global awareness campaigns and thought leadership around fungi
• International network of mentors, partners, and pilot projects

Donors (who opt in) are listed on The Future is Fungi Award homepage as core contributors to systemic change.

Call to Action

We are seeking:

• An additional 100,000 EUR to expand support for the Winner of the Future is Fungi Award
• 200,000 EUR for the runner-up
• 150,000 EUR for general program operations through 2026

Time-sensitive goal: Raise the full 450,000 EUR by the end of October to ensure the next round of fungal entrepreneurs receive support in time.

Ways to contribute:

• Philanthropic donations
• Connections to aligned funders or investors
• Introductions to corporates that can partner with our entrepreneurs

What your support unlocks:

• The next generation of fungi founders
• Media coverage in global platforms to shift public mindset
• International convenings, events, and awards for fungi leadership

Real-World Impact

One of our awardees, Jens Laurids Sørensen from Aalborg University, developed a myco-based battery. The Award enabled him to find funding partners and visibility to begin commercializing this game-changing innovation.

Every donation helps bridge the gap between science and scalable impact.

Stay Involved

• Follow us on LinkedIn
• Join our WhatsApp community
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Attend digital events and meet the world’s fungi innovators

Together, we can grow the future. Because the future is fungi.