Myco-Remediation: Industrial Land Restoration — Novobiom

Biological model: Fungi and fungal networks

Company: Novobiom

Novobiom harnesses fungal and mycelium networks to remediate contaminated industrial sites. Fungi naturally break down pollutants and absorb heavy metals, restoring soil health without excavation or chemical treatment.

The challenge

Contaminated industrial sites require expensive, energy-intensive remediation; chemical and mechanical approaches often damage remaining soil ecosystems

Nature's strategy

Fungi and mycelium networks in forest ecosystems and natural decomposition

What was emulated

Fungal enzyme production for complex pollutant degradation and heavy metal accumulation

The innovation

Using fungal networks to passively break down pollutants and absorb heavy metals from contaminated soil

Full case study

Myco-remediation is the science of using fungi and fungal networks to clean contaminated soil. Many fungi produce enzymes capable of breaking down complex pollutants including petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, and synthetic chemicals. Some fungi accumulate heavy metals within their fruiting bodies and mycelium, effectively removing them from soil. Novobiom applies these principles at industrial scale to restore contaminated land. The process involves inoculating degraded soil with selected fungal species, then monitoring the natural decomposition process. Fungi spread through soil via mycelium networks, breaking down contaminants and absorbing heavy metals. The process is passive (requires no energy input once inoculated), cost-effective (cheaper than excavation, incineration, or chemical treatment), and results in restored soil that supports plant growth. Timelines vary by contamination type: petroleum-contaminated sites may take 2-5 years, while heavy metal absorption continues over multiple years. Novobiom has deployed myco-remediation on industrial sites, coal mines, and agricultural land contaminated by decades of pollution. The restored soil can support native vegetation, creating habitat while cleaning the landscape. This represents a paradigm shift from active chemical remediation to bio-based passive restoration. Fungi also improve soil structure by creating organic matter and beneficial microbial networks, actually enhancing soil quality beyond simple pollutant removal.