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I create buildings from mushroom components

Mtamu Kililo creates alternative construction materials to confront Kenya’s housing crisis.

I’m the co-founder and chief executive of MycoTile, which works to produce affordable building materials out of agricultural waste bonded with oyster-mushroom mycelium, a network of tiny filaments that forms a root-like structure for the mushroom. MycoTile’s insulation panels have been installed in a few projects, including in student accommodation, and we have seen that the material works. Access the most recent journalism from Nature's award-winning team Explore the latest features & opinion covering groundbreaking research

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