American designer Suzie McMurty introduces the new Living with Wildfire system which is a mushroom-spore dispenser that is automatically triggered in case of a wildfire. This way, the fungi can detoxify soils after a blaze is set ablaze. The system itself is made up of a flame-retardent mycelium pod, complete with a steel vessel full of water. It is then sealed with a cork that is made up of billions of dormant oyster mushroom spores.
McMurty explains that "I'm from California, I moved to the UK just after the summer of 2020 following one of the deadliest and most widespread wildfire seasons. And over the last year, I've seen the rising heat in England. So I wanted to create something that could be a symbol of regeneration, but also an acknowledgment that the climate risk of wildfire is increasing even here."
Flame-Retardent Mycelium Pods
Surzie McMurty Designs the Living with Wildfire System
Trend Themes
1. Mushroom-spore Dispensers - Opportunity for companies to design similar systems using mushroom-spore dispensers to detoxify soils after natural disasters like wildfires.
2. Flame-retardant Materials - Innovation opportunity for companies to build and use a wide range of flame-retardant materials in different products, not only in case of wildfires.
3. Regeneration Systems - Innovation opportunity for companies to create different regeneration systems that can help nature and community restore and rebuild after natural disasters.
Industry Implications
1. Sustainable Agriculture - The mushroom industry has the opportunity to grow as an important partner for agriculture, thanks to its ability to detoxify soils, produce organic matter to enhance soil quality, and reduce water pollution.
2. Construction and Housing - The construction industry has the opportunity to integrate more sustainable and fire-resistant materials in its products and designs, improving safety and ethics.
3. Natural Disaster Response - This innovation can be extended to other industries related to natural disasters, such as search and rescue, risk mitigation planning, emergency response, and rehabilitative care.