A growing system includes a tub having a lid attached thereto, the tub having an interior area; a tubing system secured within the interior area of the tub; a fluid reservoir housing a fluid pump, the fluid pump in fluid communication with the tubing system; a water tank positioned within the interior area of the tub and having a water level sensor therein; one or more lights configured to emit light into the interior area; a heat pump to emit heat into the interior area; a thermocouple and hygrometer to measure temperature and humidity within the interior area of the tub; and a controller having one or more controls to receive user commands to operate the fluid pump, the one or more lights, and the heat pump; the controller operates to control a microclimate within the interior area of the tub based on user preferences.

An improved mycelium in the form of an edible aerial mycelium that is suitable for use as a food product, including a food ingredient for making mycelium-based food, such as bacon. A method of making an edible aerial mycelium suitable for use as a food product, including a food ingredient. An edible product containing an edible aerial mycelium, and a method of making an edible product comprising an edible aerial mycelium, such as a mycelium-based bacon. A mycelium-based food product having a texture that is analogous to a whole-muscle meat product, wherein that whole-muscle meat product is bacon.

Methods for culturing filamentous fungi, in which the filamentous fungi are grown in a colloid of air and a fermentation medium, are provided. The methods result in more rapid and prolific growth of the filamentous fungus than has been achieved by previous methods. Biomats produced by the methods and air-medium colloids for use in the methods are also provided.

A mycological biopolymer product consisting entirely of fungal mycelium is made by inoculating a nutritive substrate with a selected fungus in a sealed environment except for a void space, which space is subsequently filled with a network of undifferentiated fungal mycelium. The environmental conditions for producing the mycological biopolymer product, i.e. a high carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) content (from 5% to 7% by volume) and an elevated temperature (from 85° F. to 95° F.), prevent full differentiation of the fungus into a mushroom. There are no stipe, cap, or spores produced. The biopolymer product grows into the void space of the tool, filling the space with an undifferentiated mycelium chitin-polymer, which is subsequently extracted from the substrate and dried.

A mycological biopolymer product consisting entirely of fungal mycelium is made by inoculating a nutritive substrate with a selected fungus in a sealed environment except for a void space, which space is subsequently filled with a network of undifferentiated fungal mycelium. The environmental conditions for producing the mycological biopolymer product, i.e. a high carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) content (from 5% to 7% by volume) and an elevated temperature (from 85° F. to 95° F.), prevent full differentiation of the fungus into a mushroom. There are no stipe, cap, or spores produced. The biopolymer product grows into the void space of the tool, filling the space with an undifferentiated mycelium chitin-polymer, which is subsequently extracted from the substrate and dried.

Cultivation systems including a cultivation substrate configured to retain and viably maintain spores and germinated spores are disclosed. The cultivation systems may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The cultivation substrates may be patterned. The cultivation systems may specifically retain and viably retain specific spore types.

Biointerfaces configured to retain and viably maintain non-mammalian cells are disclosed. The biointerfaces may include one or more of a nutrient phase, an adhesive, a bioactive agent, a liquid containing phase. The biointerfaces may be patterned. The biointerfaces may specifically retain and viably retain specific non mammalian cell types such as spores of seaweed. The biointerfaces are used for growing seaweed such as dulse and kelp.

Mycelium-based materials including high-performance insulation and related methods are generally described.

A cap assembly for a cultivation bottle for growing mushrooms is provided. The cap assembly (10) includes a bottle fitting member (20) configured to fit onto a mouth part (54) of the cultivation bottle (50) and a bowl-shaped member (30) configured to be placed on the bottle fitting member. The cap assembly being connected to the bottle prior to fruiting such that the mushrooms grow up through the mouth of the bottle and the attached cap assembly. The bowl-shaped member being separable from the bottle and attached bottle fitting member to facilitate harvesting of the mushroom fruiting bodies and removal of a section of the elongated hard tip portion.

A cap assembly for a cultivation bottle for growing mushrooms is provided. The cap assembly (10) includes a bottle fitting member (20) configured to fit onto a mouth part (54) of the cultivation bottle (50) and a bowl-shaped member (30) configured to be placed on the bottle fitting member. The cap assembly being connected to the bottle prior to fruiting such that the mushrooms grow up through the mouth of the bottle and the attached cap assembly. The bowl-shaped member being separable from the bottle and attached bottle fitting member to facilitate harvesting of the mushroom fruiting bodies and removal of a section of the elongated hard tip portion.