Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) faculty and students recently presented their groundbreaking research on mushroom fiber cultivation at the Lockheed Martin Global Vision Center near Washington D.C. Professor James Hewlett, who oversees the multi-year project, led the presentation to an audience of researchers, Department of Defense representatives, and Lockheed Martin employees. The project, which began in 2021, focuses on developing a fermentation system to produce nutrient-rich mushroom mycelium, the root-like fibers of mushrooms, with the goal of creating affordable and highly nutritious food products. Students Paul Kuehnert, Asa McKaig, and 2021 graduate Matthew Brooks showcased their work, highlighting the potential of mycelium as a food source.
The FLCC project has garnered significant attention, receiving funding from the National Science Foundation and a $100,000 Department of Defense grant as part of the BioMADE BUILD challenge. FLCC was one of only eight institutions selected for funding and the sole community college to lead a project. The research has also expanded to include a collaboration with the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University. This partnership aims to identify cost-effective and readily available food sources for the mycelium, exploring the potential of using ethanol production waste as a nutrient source. In November 2024, FLCC faculty and students visited NCERC to learn more about their facilities and discuss future collaborations.
The presentation at the Lockheed Martin center marked a significant milestone for the FLCC research team. Student presenter Asa McKaig expressed pride in the team’s performance and emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in the field. The project’s next phase involves experimenting with various industrial and agricultural waste streams as nutrient sources and scaling up production in partnership with NCERC. FLCC President Robert Nye praised Professor Hewlett’s efforts in providing students with valuable research opportunities, and the college community celebrated the students’ success in presenting their work to a national audience.
photo: Paul Kuehnert of Shortsville, a dual biotechnology and horticulture major, gives a presentation to researchers, U.S. Department of Defense representatives, and employees of Lockheed Martin on Feb. 6 at Lockheed’s Global Vision Center in Arlington, Va.
