How Mushrooms Are Replacing Cows At Colorado’s New Vegan ‘Mega Ranch’

A new vegan "mega ranch" in Colorado is using mycelium (mushroom-based) protein to produce plant-based meat, with the capacity to manufacture millions of pounds of vegan meat annually. Meati, the company behind the ranch, claims its scalable methodology can create the equivalent of "hundreds of cows’ worth of food" in just days, using only a teaspoon of mycelium cells. The facility, partially funded by a $150 million investment, is set to ramp up production by the end of the year, offering a variety of plant-based meat products under the Eat Meati brand.

Mycelium's versatility extends beyond the food industry, with various companies using it to create sustainable alternatives to animal products. In addition to plant-based meat, mycelium is being explored as a material for fashion, serving as an environmentally conscious substitute for animal leather. Stella McCartney, for example, has launched luxury handbags made from mycelium, highlighting the potential for widespread sustainable change by incorporating mushrooms into various industries.