Mycoremediation: How Mushrooms Digest Toxic Waste into Possibility

Islands of plastic. Mine tailings. Nuclear waste. What happens to the most toxic human-made messes? Come learn from local mycologists and restoration ecologists about how mushrooms are helping break down the most inhospitable sludge into life-giving soil and water. Cliff Bradley, Mark Vander Meer, and Egan Jankowski-Bradley will be walking us through what mycoremediation is, how it works, projects that are underway (both in Montana and beyond), and what opportunities are possible in this fungal partnership. Come with questions, stay for answers!

Presenter Bios:

Mark Vander Meer is the founder of Bad Goat Forest Products. He is a forester and restoration ecologist. As a professional forester and soil ecologist for more than 20 years, Mark has been practicing and mentoring long-term sustainable forest management in Montana and is well qualified to review forest plans and assess project sites.

Cliff Bradley is a Founder and President of Montana BioAgriculture Inc. In his 30 years career he has worked with fungi for applications in agriculture, forestry and bioremediation. Work with fungi includes all stages from strain isolation to commercial scale production. In previous company conducted mycoremediation of petroleum, chlorinated compounds and explosives.

Egan Jankowski-Bradley manages Montana BioAgriculture laboratory operations. 10+ years working in fungal laboratories including strain isolations, fungal production, and field trials. Recently conducted a pilot demonstration of mycoremediation of acid mine drainage in the Pioneer Mountains of MT. Egan has also been an active member of WMMA for decades and is passionate about mushrooms as well.