Hello Mycopreneurs,

Welcome to the Mycopreneur Newsletter - Today’s edition features the key themes as well as the full video recording of our recent roundtable discussion with Open Fung and Fungaria titled Safeguarding Fungi: Conservation, Genetics, Ethics, and Sustainable Use in a Global Context

Our weekly Incubator has recently evolved to feature deep dive discourses featuring subject area experts that present high level analysis and insights about specific niches relevant to the mushroom entrepreneurial community. This was a rich discussion highlighting numerous pressing issues in the global mushroom space, and I’m pleased to present the roundtable discussion in its entirety below for those of you who were unable to attend our live session.

Stay tuned for forthcoming announcements on the next round of Incubators - we have some brilliant presenters lined up. If you’d like to be considered for a hosting slot at one of our weekly Incubators, reach out with a proposal by replying to this email.

Overview of the discourse:

Fungal Conservation and Biotechnology

The roundtable discussion on fungal conservation, genetics, ethics, and sustainable use featured speakers from Open Fung and Fungaria, with Ezequiel Cruz, a Mexican mycologist, introducing his work on conservation policies for ectomycorrhizal fungi. Rachel, Rolando, and Phil from Open Fung discussed their nonprofit's mission to advance fungal biotechnology through open science and community building, with Rachel highlighting her background in fungal pathogens and Rolando emphasizing the intersection of Indigenous sovereignty and data. The session concluded with an introduction to the event by Dennis, who expressed gratitude for the turnout and introduced Ezequiel as a key participant in the discussion.

Fungal Biodiversity Conservation Challenges

The discussion focused on fungal biodiversity, particularly in Chiapas, where Ezequiel explained that only about 900 out of an estimated 50,000 fungal species have been described, highlighting the need for accurate species identification and conservation. Rachel and Rolando from Open Fung discussed their work with fungal biomaterials, emphasizing the importance of understanding species' evolutionary histories and conservation needs, especially for economically valuable species like Ganoderma. They stressed the need to respect local ecosystems and traditional knowledge when working with fungi, while Ezequiel added that accurate species identification is crucial for proper conservation categorization and preventing the misclassification of threatened species.

Genetics and Fungi Commercialization

The meeting focused on the role of genetics in understanding and naming fungi, with Rachel emphasizing that genetics is one of many ways to study fungi and highlighting the contributions of citizen scientists. The discussion also touched on the commercialization of fungi and the need to respect and compensate traditional knowledge, with Ezequiel and Rolando mentioned as having addressed these issues. The group was encouraged to discuss ways to ensure that indigenous IP and long-held knowledge about fungi are not marginalized in the rush to commercialize fungal technologies.

Indigenous Sovereignty Over Natural Resources

The group discussed the philosophical question of who owns nature, with Rolando explaining that concepts of private property and land ownership are rooted in colonial systems developed centuries ago. Ezequiel raised concerns about the ownership of traditional knowledge associated with nature, particularly regarding the commercialization of local knowledge without proper acknowledgment of the original stewards. The discussion highlighted the need to address historical dispossession and recognize Indigenous sovereignty over land and resources, with Rolando emphasizing the importance of allowing communities to dictate access and benefit-sharing of natural resources.

Genomics and Fungi Knowledge Exchange

The group discussed the role of genomics in understanding and honoring fungi, highlighting the confluence of Western science and Indigenous knowledge in Chiapas. Rachel explained how genomics can reveal fungi's evolutionary history and capabilities, while Ezekiel shared insights on applying genomic data to products and the need to educate people in Chiapas about fungi. The conversation also touched on the importance of making mycological research and resources more accessible, with Phil emphasizing the need for a common language between DIY enthusiasts and academic researchers. The discussion concluded with a mention of ongoing work to communicate the importance of fungi to the United Nations.

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Ethical Fungal Domestication and Sovereignty

The group discussed ethical considerations around the domestication of wild fungi, particularly for commercial purposes, and the importance of respecting Indigenous knowledge and rights. Ezekiel and Rolando shared their perspectives on the need for stricter policies and regulations, as well as the importance of acknowledging colonialism and centering Indigenous sovereignty in future fungal research and applications. They emphasized the potential of fungi to address various environmental and sustainability goals, while also acknowledging the challenges of operating within existing systems that often prioritize speed over ethical considerations.

Fungal Domestication and Ethical Research

Rachel discussed the impact of moving fungi, highlighting the importance of considering non-human elements in domestication and land stewardship. She emphasized the potential consequences of introducing fungi to new ecosystems, citing examples of invasive species establishing in sensitive environments. Ezekiel, with a background in taxonomy and systematics, expressed the need for policies to support ethical research practices and the proper documentation of permits for collecting samples. He suggested that such measures, though radical, are necessary to ensure the responsible use and study of fungi.

Mycology's Convergence in Citizen Science

The group discussed the growing convergence between academic, commercial, and public sectors in mycology, with Tyler highlighting how iNaturalist and other platforms are breaking down traditional divides. Ezekiel shared insights about using accessible tools like IQ3 and 3 East Web to enable citizen science and advanced fungal research without requiring extensive coding knowledge. The discussion emphasized the importance of data ownership and monetization in the future of mycological research, with Rolando suggesting market crafting as a way to create more equitable economic models for community-driven data collection.

Ethical Mycology and Indigenous Communities

The group discussed ethical considerations in mycology, particularly regarding the collection and use of fungi from indigenous and local communities. They explored issues of permission, profit-sharing, and the importance of building trust and understanding with these communities. The conversation touched on the challenges of implementing laws and policies in this area, as well as the potential for genetics and genomics research to help address these issues. The participants agreed on the need for best practices and open communication to move forward ethically in mycology research and applications.

Global Psychedelic Week is coming in hot November 3-9, 2025.

We now have 90 confirmed in-person events in 15 countries alongside the main online program! To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive and international psychedelic event ever produced and it’s taken a huge amount of organization, execution, and logistical back end programming.

This week we’ve been featured in High Times and Honeysuckle Magazine, and tickets have been flying.

We are so excited for the inaugural event, and it wouldn’t be the same without you.

I’m on the Greek island of Naxos right now and it’s Friday night, so that’s all for today’s Mycopreneur Newsletter. We managed to host an impromptu Mycopreneur Incubator yesterday with a small cadre of heavy hitters - our Incubator next week is slated to feature mushroom community favorite David Poplin sharing insights from the ground as he prepares to open Los Hongos mushroom cafe, a mycocentric cafe and storefront in Portland, Oregon. Stay tuned for the proper announcement early next week. Its grand opening is set for November.

This week’s Mycopreneur Podcast episode just went live earlier today and features Joshua White, Founder of Fireside Project. We discuss their innovative free community resources for supporting people who choose to use psychedelics poutside of a clinical setting or in the absence of a professional guide - check it out below.

I’m pleased to announce that we now have a Mycopreneur Incubator Discord channel thanks to the diligence and admin oversight of Jason Scott from Feral Fungi and Robert from Sporl.

Thanks for reading the Mycopreneur Newsletter, and have a great Friday everyone.

DW