Mushroom and mycelium ingredient company Maia Farms has received $1.75 million from Genome British Columbia’s Industry Innovation (I2) Fund. Based in Vancouver, Maia Farms upcycles agricultural byproducts at its lab to produce clean-label ingredients rich in protein and fiber. These ingredients can be incorporated into a variety of products, from soups to ice cream.

Last year, Maia Farms won the Deep Space Food Challenge Grand Prize and secured $2.3 million in pre-seed funding. The company is now offering three mycelium-based ingredients and is a partner on a Genome BC research project with University of the Fraser Valley examining climate-resilient food systems. The I2 Fund provides repayable growth capital to small and medium-sized enterprises, allowing Maia Farms to scale up production and explore new manufacturing options in the food industry.