How are mycelium bricks made from agricultural waste and fungal fibers?

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Civil engineering — civil engineering Barge in a lock on the Grand Canal d'Alsace at Marckolsheim, Alsace, France.

Mycelium bricks are an innovative, sustainable building material developed as part of the shift toward low-impact construction methods in civil engineering.

The production process involves the following steps:

Combination: Agricultural waste, such as sawdust or husks, is mixed with mycelium—the rootlike fungal hyphae fibers.
Growth: Through natural growth processes, the fungal hyphae act as a binding agent, weaving through the waste material to create a sturdy, lightweight, and biodegradable composite.
Stabilization: Once the brick has formed into the desired shape, it is heat-treated. This step is essential to kill the fungi and halt any further growth.

By utilizing these natural processes, engineers create a low-energy alternative to traditional building materials. Beyond their use as bricks, these materials are also being studied for their potential as high-efficiency building insulation, which can help reduce the long-term energy consumption of structures.1