Out of 187 entrants, Michroma took the stop prize for its use of fungi to produce natural food colorings. The company will receive €250,000 (US$290,000).
Mycolever won second place for its innovations in using fungal biotechnology to replace petroleum- and animal-based ingredients in the personal care and cosmetics sector. HIRO Technologies took third place for its diapers that decompose in 12 months, with help from fungi.
“We’re witnessing a global awakening around fungi’s potential to power a new industrial revolution, designed by nature itself,” Susanne Gløersen, founder of The Future is Fungi Award, said in a press statement, as reported by vegconomist. “Startups like Michroma, Mycolever, and HIRO Technologies are redefining industries to be more regenerative by design.”