Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Standard Bank Group Limited

Carolyn Margaret Cameron-Kirksmith

Andreas Mershin

Christopher Maurer

Patritsia Maria Stathatou

A method of making a food source or medicinal composition and a mycotecture construction unit includes (a) cultivating a mycelium/substrate composite and edible mushrooms, and (b) manufacturing the mycotecture construction unit. A mycelium inoculum is formed of a preselected fungus and used to inoculate a substrate. Mycelium are grown in the inoculated substrate in a growing column and edible mushrooms are harvested from the mycelium, leaving a mycelium-substrate composite. The manufacture of the mycotecture construction unit includes placing the mycelium-substrate composite into a modular, reconfigurable press having a cavity with a predetermined shape; pressing the mycelium-substrate composite at a predetermined pressure; and heating the mycelium-substrate composite in a heating chamber. The construction unit is packaging, an insulation panel, a building construction material, or a household fitting with excellent compression strength, compressive modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, insulative properties, and fire retardant properties.

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Johannesburg, South Africa

Carolyn Margaret Cameron-Kirksmith