US 11,997,956 B2
Method for mycotecture
Andreas Mershin, Arlington, MA (US); Christopher Maurer, Cleveland Heights, OH (US); Patritsia Maria Stathatou, Boston, MA (US); and Carolyn Margaret Cameron-Kirksmith, Johannesburg (ZA)
Assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US); and Standard Bank Group Limited, Johannesburg (ZA)
Filed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US); and Standard Bank Group Limited, Johannesburg (ZA)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/648,105.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/137,608, filed on Jan. 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0217923 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. A01G 18/20 (2018.01); A01G 18/00 (2018.01); A01G 18/50 (2018.01); A01G 18/70 (2018.01); C12N 1/14 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 18/00 (2018.02) [A01G 18/20 (2018.02); A01G 18/50 (2018.02); A01G 18/70 (2018.02); C12N 1/14 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making a food source or medicinal composition and of making a mycotecture construction unit, comprising:
(a) cultivating a mycelium/substrate composite and edible mushrooms, including;
(i) forming a mycelium inoculum of a preselected fungus;
(ii) comminuting a substrate;
(iii) soaking the substrate in water;
(iv) draining the water to achieve a substrate moisture content characterized by clumping when squeezed;
(v) pasteurizing the substrate;
(vi) cooling the substrate below about 26° C.;
(vii) after said cooling, inoculating the substrate with the mycelium inoculum;
(viii) growing mycelium in the substrate from the mycelium inoculum; and
(ix) harvesting the edible mushrooms from the mycelium, leaving a mycelium-substrate composite;
(b) and manufacturing the mycotecture construction unit, including;
(i) placing the mycelium-substrate composite into a press having a cavity form with a predetermined shape;
(ii) pressing the mycelium-substrate composite at a predetermined pressure; and
(iii) heating the mycelium-substrate composite while in the form.