Date: 2025-09-25
VU startup MycoFarming is known for its innovative use of fungi in agriculture. To test their products, MycoFarming recently received funding from the VU IXA-GO Impact Fund. Their technology uses the natural filtration power of fungi to remove harmful substances such as nitrogen and phosphorus from water, before these pollutants enter the environment.
New trials at VU
Mycofarming is working on several innovative solutions, including their so-called “fungi kits” for agriculture. These kits can be placed in ditches as bioreactors to filter harmful substances from the water. After promising initial results, the next step is thorough validation of the innovation, involving laboratory testing, fungal growth facilities, and further research. The funding from the VU IXA-GO Impact Fund will partly support this phase.
More financing needed
Validation will be carried out in collaboration with Frederic Béen from the Chemistry for Environment & Health research group, with whom a joint grant application has also been submitted to ChemistryNL. This funding is intended to analyze Mycofarming’s application for cleaning wastewater from hospitals.
With this, Mycofarming takes the next step toward large-scale pilots that aim to offer concrete solutions not only for the nitrogen problem, but also for other factors negatively affecting surface water quality.
The VU IXA-GO Impact Fund
The IXA-GO Impact Fund supports research that explores the feasibility and market potential of innovative ideas — whether conceptual, social, technical, or economic in nature. Only researchers and startups affiliated with VU can apply. Want to learn more? Please visit the webpage: Realiseren van impact – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
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This article was written by IXA-GO, the knowledge transfer office of four major Amsterdam knowledge institutions: Amsterdam UMC, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Universiteit van Amsterdam, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
