At our June inspiring networking evening Meet the Makers 19 we had the honour of welcoming our second guests – Cyril Šup and Miroslav Jozífek from Amanita Urban Farm. These enthusiastic mushroom growers took us through the fascinating world of urban growing and shared their experience and their plans for where the project is heading.
The video recording is in Czech.At the start of the presentation, Cyril Šup, who has a background in engineering and technology, introduced himself and his colleague Miroslav Jozífek, who is doing a PhD in mycology at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. They walked us through the process of growing mushrooms from the Petri dish all the way to the final product.
From mycelium to fruiting bodies
Amanita Urban Farm, a small urban farm based in the basement of an apartment building in Prague 3, specialises in growing edible and medicinal mushrooms. What makes their approach special is that they handle the entire growing process themselves – from isolating the mycelium to the fruiting bodies. As Cyril Šup explained, they use, for example, standard grow tents commonly used for growing plants and convert them into sterile laboratories.
Technology and DIY innovation
One of the key moments of the presentation was the introduction of their home-made lab. Standard equipment that would cost hundreds of thousands of crowns is something the team at Amanita Urban Farm managed to build themselves for a fraction of the price. For example, a magnetic stirrer made from PC fans or their own flow box, a device for filtering air. These DIY solutions are not only cost-effective but also functional and efficient.
The future and challenges
The discussion also turned to the challenges and future of the company. Amanita Urban Farm plans to expand its premises and is looking for investors so it can keep growing and make its processes more efficient. The goal is to move from an evening hobby to a fully fledged business that is economically sustainable too.
Conclusion
The presentation by Cyril Šup and Miroslav Jozífek of Amanita Urban Farm was an inspiring example of how a passion for mycology can be combined with technological innovation and community engagement. Their approach to urban farming and DIY innovation is truly inspiring.
Want to see all the videos from Meet the Makers 19? 👉 Click here! 👈
