Mushrooms usually sprout from dark, damp forest floors or bloom on fallen tree branches. However, recently a startup in Abu Dhabi has found a way to grow them in the middle of the desert. The indoor farm’s success in growing mushrooms in one of the hottest climates is a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of modern technology.
Existing indoor mushroom-growing techniques in Europe and the United States have been adapted to thrive in this city’s extreme heat. By maintaining higher air pressure within the growing chambers, the farm protects its crops from the region’s strong winds and pervasive dust, assuring that the mushrooms can flourish despite the harsh external environment.
This pioneering approach has not only made high-end mushrooms available in the UAE but also positioned the region as a potential leader in sustainable agriculture. According to market intelligence experts, The Business Research Company, the global mushroom market grew by over 9 percent to $62.4 billion last year, driven by the increasing popularity of plant-based and vegan diets. The UAE’s innovative mushroom farming could capture a significant share of this expanding market, while also contributing to broader environmental and economic goals.
One of the most exciting aspects of this mushroom cultivation, apart from its edibility, is the potential to extract chitin, a fibrous substance and natural vegan biopolymer found in the cell walls of fungi. This fibrous substance can be converted into chitosan, a derivative that has remarkable applications in the beauty and personal care industry. Chitosan is known to bind water and hydrate the skin. It forms a hydrophilic film on the skin, preventing water loss and enhancing moisture retention – critical components required for skincare products.
Historically and by far, the main source of chitin has been derived from crustacean sources. But, the future of beauty and personal care is Vegan. Mushrooms were historically the first source of chitin, and recent advancements have made it possible to isolate and utilise this natural vegan biopolymer more effectively.
Chitosan, created through a partial deacylation process under alkaline conditions, presents unique functional properties due to its biological activity. These include anticholesterolemic, wound-healing, anticancer, fungistatic, hemostatic, analgesic, anti-acid, anti-ulcer, and immunoadjuvant effects. In cosmetics, chitosan is valued for its limited toxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, making it an ideal ingredient for truly sustainable beauty products.
Simultaneously, the beauty and personal care industry, valued at about $600 billion, is under regulatory and consumer pressure to eliminate microplastics and petrochemicals due to their environmental impact. Natural biopolymers like chitin and chitosan offer a viable alternative, capable of replacing these ‘no longer desired’ substances while enhancing product performance. Despite their potential, these natural biopolymers have been underutilised due to their solubility issues. This is where CXC-SKIN, a technology developed by the Montréal-based company CXC™, comes into play.
CXC-SKIN revolutionises the use of natural biopolymers in beauty products by overcoming the solubility barriers by creating a, previously impossible, homogenous suspension. By unlocking the power of non-soluble and natural vegan biopolymers such as chitin, chitosan, and alpha-cellulose, this technology eliminates the need for microplastics and petrochemical-derived ingredients. This breakthrough addresses environmental concerns while improving the efficacy of beauty and personal care products.
Beyond the beauty and personal care sector, mushrooms hold significant promise for waste management and construction – two of the heaviest polluting industries. The UAE’s rapid urbanisation and development have led to substantial waste generation, particularly from construction and demolition. Even in this case, mushrooms, often referred to as the planet’s recyclers, can play a pivotal role in transforming waste into valuable resources. By integrating mushroom cultivation into waste management strategies, the UAE can reduce its carbon footprint and enhance sustainability.
Mushrooms can decompose organic waste, converting it into nutrient-rich compost that can be used to enrich soils and support sustainable agriculture. This not only mitigates waste but also closes the loop in the organic matter lifecycle, promoting a circular economy. The UAE’s recent Waste to Zero project which focuses on reducing the extraction of natural resources, minimising waste, and regenerating natural systems, will be further accelerated thanks to mushrooms.
François Lamoureux, the co-founder of CXC™, sees immense potential in harnessing the power of mushrooms and natural biopolymers to transform the beauty industry. “With the Middle East’s expertise in managing global feedstocks, the region can spearhead the global adoption of natural vegan biopolymer technology. Oil and gas companies can also diversify their portfolios and shape a more sustainable future by adopting our innovation while decarbonising a high-margin oil and gas-dependent industry.” François explains.
He emphasises that CXC-SKIN’s technology can help the UAE transition to a different feedstock, utilising resources already available in the region.
Mr. Lamoureux adds, “People often overlook the potential of chitin and chitosan because they are locked in their natural state. Our process unlocks this potential, allowing for large-scale applications that can replace microplastics and petrochemicals across various industries.”
The potential applications of natural biopolymers extend far beyond beauty and construction. In agriculture, chitosan can be used as fertilizer, biostimulants, natural pesticides, and soil enhancers, promoting healthier crops and reducing the need for chemical inputs. In medicine, chitosan’s biocompatibility and biodegradability make it an ideal material for drug delivery systems, wound dressings, and surgical sutures.
The versatility of natural biopolymers like chitin and chitosan underscores the very importance of continued research and innovation in this field. By unlocking their full potential, industries can move away from reliance on petrochemicals and synthetic materials: and oil and gas can lead the charge.
Further, François hopes that investors, policymakers, and industry leaders will seize this opportunity to support and adopt natural biopolymer technology. “I want to help all industries understand that the solution to a more sustainable future is right beneath their feet – in the mushrooms. And CXC is here to accelerate these solutions with our CXC-SKIN technology,” asserts François.
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