126. Sizzling Success: Eben Bayer of MyForest Foods on Scaling Mycelium Magic

Karl and Erum reconnect with Eben Bayer, Board Chair at MyForest Foods, for a compelling follow-up conversation on the evolution of mycelium-based food products. Eben dives deep into the scaling journey of MyBacon, a plant-based bacon alternative created through solid-state fermentation using gourmet mushroom mycelium. From early experiments producing just six packs a week to now operating at multiple farms across North America and Europe, Eben outlines the technical, economic, and operational hurdles his team has overcome. Listeners will discover how MyForest Foods is pioneering a distributed, farm-based manufacturing model and why MyBacon is outpacing pork bacon in select markets. If you're curious about biomaterials, novel fermentation tech, or the practical future of sustainable food systems, this episode offers a front-row seat to the revolution. Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing? Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Chapters:00:00:00 - Liftoff! Imagining the Future with Space Elevators00:00:15 - Back in Action: Your Favorite Bio-Futurists Return00:00:31 - Erum’s Arctic Escape: Sauna Talks & Synbio Dreams00:02:27 - Biotech Bonding: Unexpected Encounters in the North00:04:39 - From Lava Fields to Lab Ideas: Iceland Inspires00:04:48 - Travel Hack: How ChatGPT Became Our Digital Tour Guide00:06:59 - Survival, Science & Synbio: Adventures at the Edge00:09:37 - Deep Dive: Oceans, Algae & the Blue Carbon Breakthrough00:12:29 - Enter Eben Bayer: Mycelium Magic and Fungi Futures00:24:22 - Farming the Future: A Global Mycelium Network Emerges00:25:13 - Teaming Up: Mycelium Hits the Mainstream Food Scene00:26:30 - Eco-Revolution: Why Fungi Might Just Save the Planet00:27:52 - What’s Next? The Tasty Future of Bio-Engineered Foods00:29:35 - Fungi Meets Firmware: Mycelium, Tech & the Rise of Bio-AI00:30:51 - From Farm to Factory: The Scale-Up Challenge Conquered00:32:41 - Off-World Growth: Mycelium and the Final Frontier00:38:30 - Wrap-Up: Big Ideas, Bold Futures, and What’s Coming Next Links and Resources:MyForest FoodsEcovativeHotdogJudge on InstagramExtremophiles on Mars: One group of living   things that may be able to survive these extreme conditions is lichens,Blue Carbon documentary- carbon dioxide that is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean. ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Topics Covered:  biomanufacturing, mycelium, biomaterials, ecovative, bacon, mycelium bacon, plant based foods. Have a question or comment? Message us here: Text or Call (804) 505-5553  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media